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Elrond Desperate Hours AU Character Notes:

A work in progress:

My character notes for Elrond, like my character notes for Faramir, are particularly short and a work in progress, because I have so much to say about Elrond and I have written so much about him, that it is hard to compress it for a character biography.

For DH AU stories featuring Elrond, see generally:

"Tales of the Elves of Imladris" and "Tales of the First Age" in the Desperate Hours Series (some corporal punishment elements) or "The Six Children of Elrond Peredhel" and various others in the gen version of the Desperate Hours series (no corporal punishment elements). Just filter my stories by Elrond would probably be the best way to find them.

Appearance and sensory details:

Physical Appearance:

I see Elrond as having ebony black hair that shines in the sun with raven's wing blue-black iridescence. His eyes are a shade of blue-gray between heather blue/gray and slate blue/gray. Celebrian describes the color of Elrond’s eyes as ‘molten silver with a cobalt blue sheen.’

I see Elrond as younger than he was cast in the movies, even though I think that Hugo Weaving is a great actor. I also see Elrond and some of the Imladris elves of Noldorin heritage as seeming somewhat Native American in features, although I'm not sure exactly why that is. It might just be because the actor I found who makes me think of my mental picture of Elrond is Adam Beach in his role as Squanto in 1994's Squanto: A warrior's Tale.

Although, as above, I would picture him with gray eyes because Elrond and his twin having gray eyes like Melian, Luthien, and Elwing is a canon detail that I like, and generally use in my AU.

Elrond’s skin is medium brown with coppery (reddish caramel) undertones. He has high cheekbones, a straight nose, and full lips.

His hair falls to the middle of back, he wears it partially braided back, in a hybrid of the braiding styles worn by healers, warriors, and scholars, and in a hybrid of the braids favored by the elves of Gondolin and Doriath.

Other Sensory Details:

Elrond smells like a medicinal garden in the dawn mist.

Elrond's 'mind voice' feels like a waterfall along the course of a cold, fast-flowing mountain river. (or like a mighty, rushing river).

Elrond's Powers:

Elrond 'hears' water the way that Thranduil (and some other wood elves) hear trees. This is partly an inheritance from Melian, who sometimes served Ulmo as well as Yavanna, and partly Ulmo's fondness for Elrond's family.

Elrond has inherited elven mind powers, human magic, and Maiarin magic. I may post more information on Elrond's powers as separate chapters.

For more on Elrond’s powers, see chapter of this story on Magic in the Desperate Hours AU. See also chapter 1 of “Out of Time” available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/47745574/chapters/120356290

A Note re: Timeline in the First Age:

Regarding the length of the twins’ fosterage with the Sons of Feanor, I have them only spending a few years with them at Amon Ereb, before Maedhros and Maglor decide that they will be safer on the Isle of Balar. At that point, they arrange for a parley with Cirdan, and deliver the twins to his care. So, the twins grow up from the age of eight or so on the Isle of Balar, under the care of Cirdan, Ereinion, Galadriel, Celeborn, and sometimes Amdir. Amdir is often away, searching for the twins’ uncles amongst the Laiquendi.

AU (and canon) Roles Professions/affiliations:

Elrond is a master healer. He rules Imladris from S.A. 1700ish through the end of the Third Age. He is a renowned master scholar. He is a military leader during the War of the Men and elves in Sauron in 1700ish S.A. and the War of the Last Alliance. He is also a military leader (of lesser rank) during the War of Wrath.

Elrond's relationships:

Relationships: Celebrian:

Celebrian and Elrond have been 'in love' to some degree or another since relatively early in the Fourth Age, not long after Celebrian achieved her first Yen (turned 144 years old). They did not meet until Celebrian's first trip to Lindon, which did not take place until after her 144th birthday in part because Celeborn was afraid that Celebrian would see the sea and experience the sea-longing (which she did not). Celebrian and Elrond made tentative plans to marry about forty-five minutes after they first met, much to Erestor's bemused surprise. See draft notes for "Late, a Mess, and Barely Repentant." For Celebrian and Elrond together, see, out of my posted stories, see “Reclaiming” and “Happy Narbeleth, Hir Elrond” in “Tales of the Elves of Imladris.”

Celebrian and Elrond have five (or six) children: the twins Elrohir and Elladan, Andreth (a daughter), Belemir (a son) and Arwen (and they consider Arwen's husband Aragorn, who was Elrond's last foster-son on Middle Earth, also to be their son). They are also parents-in-law to Andreth's husband Gelmir, Belemir's human wife Rossidhiel, and later, in the late 4th Age, to Elrohir's wife Rissaurel Ereinionhil, and Elladan's wife Ciryawende Ereinionhen.

Their grandchildren include Eldarion, Melyanna, Gilwen, Faramir (by adoption), and Grace Gelmiriel.

Their grandchildren-in-law include their granddaughter Grace's husband, their sons' blood-brother, Melpomaen Erestorion and Solarion.

Their great-grandchildren include Faramir's daughter, Mithiriel, who is married to Elurin Diorchil's grandson, Ecthelion 'Theli' Diorchil and Nestorionhen.

Celebrian calls Elrond “my Sea Prince” or “my raven-haired Prince.” Elrond calls Celebrian “My Moonlight Lady” and “My Silver Vixen.”

Relationships: Glorfindel:

Glorfindel loves and respects Elrond deeply, but he also doesn't put up with Elrond putting himself at risk unnecessarily unless Elrond demands that he allow it. Glorfindel calls Elrond "my prince" or "my young prince" or "my young lord" or "my little lord" or "my dear young lord" or "my dear difficult young lord." or sometimes just "my lord" if they're being formal, or "Elrond" if they're being informal, or "my heart" or "grandson of my heart" if he's being tender.

Glorfindel thinks of Elrond as his King, really, even though Elrond himself firmly views his King as Ereinion. Glorfindel is sworn to Ereinion through Elrond, and Glorfindel not-so-secretly believes that Elrond has a better right to be High King of the Noldor on Middle Earth than Ereinion Gil-galad does, because Elrond is Turgon's great-grandson and Turgon was briefly, technically, High King of the Noldor on Middle Earth in the First Age. Turgon, as Fingolfin's son, was higher in the succession than Finarfin, from whom Ereinion is descended, even though Idril (in my AU), when she was offered the High Queenship (by Ereinion and by Ereinion's regent Galadriel, and by Cirdan) did decline, letting the high Kingship go to Ereinion.

Elrond does not like it when Glorfindel calls him "my prince," since he views that higher term of address as weakening Ereinion Gil-galad's claim to the throne. Glorfindel doesn't quite dare to call Elrond 'my King,' because even he realizes that would weaken (and challenge) Gil-galad's claim to the Kingship, and Glorfindel respects (however reluctantly) Elrond's decision to swear his fealty to Gil-galad as his King. Glorfindel does, occasionally, tell Elrond that Glorfindel thinks he would make an excellent King, one whom Glorfindel would be proud to serve. One whom Glorfindel thinks would do an even better job than Gil-galad, but that's neither here nor there, and Glorfindel never says so in as many words to Elrond, because he knows that Elrond loves and respects Gil-galad, and would not like to hear it.

Relationships: Arandil (Glorfindel's son, Elrond's childhood mentor)

Arandil helped to raise Elrond, in Sirion, and then again on the Isle of Balar, once the twins left the sons of Feanor, while they were still young children. Arandil was their Household Governor and their primary tutor, in the fighting arts and in scholarly matters. He was also their representative on Ereinion Gil-Galad's council and their (and Ereinion Gil-galad's) ambassador to the humans of the Houses of the Edain.

Arandil refers to young Elrond and Elros as "My Stars" collectively, and as "My Healing Star" and "My Questing Star" respectively.

Relationship: Thranduil:

Elrond calls Thranduil "My Noble Star' or "My Star" or "dear young cousin" or "cousin-mine." I'm still working on how Thranduil addresses Elrond. I may also have Elrond sometimes call a hurt Thranduil ‘my favorite patient,’ a little fatalistically but still fondly.

My Arandil refers to young Elrond and Elros as "My Stars" collectively, and as "My Healing Star" and "My Questing Star" respectively. So it is a nice continuity, to have Elrond share something that is meaningful with Thranduil in a way specific to Thranduil. And it is something for Thranduil to maybe realize in the course of a story, that Elrond chose a name for him inspired in part on a nickname of Elrond's own that had been special to him.

Elrond is a mentor to Thranduil, and always very patient with him. He tutors Thranduil in mind magic, among other things.

Relationships Ereinion Gil-galad:

To Elrond, Ereinion is his big-brother, one of his best-friends, and another father (although neither of them calls it that, because Elrond has father issues). Ereinion’s childhood nickname for Elrond and Elros was ‘my little sea-monsters.’

Elrond's Sigil:

A single eight pointed white star on a purple/blue sky (in the southern sky). It is an homage to his Noldorin heritage, and to Ereinion Gil-galad his High King (whose symbol is three eight pointed white stars on dark twilight purple) and to his Feanorion foster-fathers.

The star is set over a green mountain range separated by a river (standing for Imladris), over which were crossed a sword and a scroll, denoting his roles as warrior and scholar. On the bank of the river stood a willow tree, the symbol of a healer.

A list of adjectives/words that I customarily use in describing/writing Elrond:

Elrond - scholarly, kind, sometimes fierce, wise, curious, caring, competent, versatile, fey (as in otherworldly, like faerie kind (or a Maia))

Some of my Favorite Canon Quotes about/relating to Elrond:

“In those days of our tale, there were still some people who had both elves and heroes of the North for ancestors and Elrond, the master of the house, was their chief. He was as noble and as fair in face as an elf lord, as strong as a warrior, as wise as a wizard, as venerable as a king of dwarves and as kind as summer.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

"Elrond gathered [at Imladris] many Elves, and other folk of wisdom and power from among all the kindreds of Middle-earth, and he preserved through many lives of Men the memory of all that had been fair; and the house of Elrond was a refuge for the weary and the oppressed, and a treasury of good counsel and wise lore." - J.R.R. Tolkien

"[T]he Ring of Sapphire was with Elrond, in the fair valley of Rivendell, upon whose house the stars of heaven most brightly shone." - J.R.R. Tolkien

“For [Elrond’s Great-grandmother] Melian was of the divine race of the Valar, and she was a Maia of great power and wisdom; but for love of Elwë Singollo she took upon herself the form of the Elder Children of Ilúvatar, and in that union she became bound by the chain and trammels of the flesh of Arda . . . and in that form she gained a power over the substance of Arda . . . and Esgalduin the enchanted river [spoke with her voice].” – J.R.R. Tolkien

“Then Elrond and Galadriel rode on; for the Third Age was over and the Days of the Rings were passed and an end was come of the story and song of those times.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

“For Maglor [and Maedhros] took pity upon Elros and Elrond, and [they] cherished them, and love grew after between them, as little might be thought.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

“Farewell, and may the blessing of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you.
May the stars shine upon your faces!” ― Spoken by Elrond, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

“Such is of the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.” ― Spoken by Elrond, J.R.R. Tolkien

"And it is said that in . .. [that] time [when the refugees of Doriath and Gondolin were making their homes and their ships at the Havens of Sirion,] Ulmo came to Valinor out of the deep waters, and spoke there to the Valar of the need of the Elves; and he called on them to forgive them, and rescue them from the overmastering might of Morgoth, and win back the Silmarils, wherein alone now bloomed the light of the Days of Bliss when the Two Trees still shone in Valinor. But Manwë moved not; and of the counsels of his heart what tale shall tell?

The wise have said that the hour was not yet come, and that only one speaking in person for the cause of both Elves and Men, pleading for pardon on their misdeeds and pity on their woes, might move the counsels of the Powers; and the oath of Fëanor perhaps even Manwë could not loose, until it found its end, and the sons of Fëanor relinquished the Silmarils, upon which they had laid their ruthless claim. For the light which lit the Silmarils the Valar themselves had made." – J.R.R. Tolkien

“And thus [with the seeming permission of Feanor and his sons, who seemingly repossessed the gems only to give them to themselves,] it came to pass that the Silmarils found their long homes: one in the airs of heaven, and one in the fires of the heart of the world, and one in the deep waters.”― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion

“There came a time near dawn on the eve of spring, and Luthien danced upon a green hill; and suddenly she began to sing. Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Luthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where he feet had passed. Then the spell of silence fell from Beren, and he called to her, crying Tinuviel; and the woods echoed the name.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion

"For Lúthien was the most beautiful of all the Children of Ilúvatar. Blue was her raiment as the unclouded heaven, but her eyes were grey as the starlit evening; her mantle was sewn with golden flowers, but her hair was dark as the shadows of twilight. As the light upon the leaves of trees, as the voice of clear waters, as the stars above the mists of the world, such was her glory and her loveliness; and in her face was a shining light." - J.R.R. Tolkien

Chapter Text

Glorfindel Desperate Hours AU Character Notes:

A work in progress.

For DH AU stories featuring Glorfindel, see generally:

"Tales of the Elves of Imladris" in the Desperate Hours Series (some corporal punishment elements) or "Helpless Moments" in the gen version of the Desperate Hours series (no corporal punishment elements).

Appearance and sensory details:

Glorfindel has hair of dark gold and bright, piercing blue eyes of a shade between cobalt blue and Egyptian Blue.

Glorfindel smells like honey and oats and sandalwood soap, much like Arandil, only Arandil's scent is more like honey and only lightly like sandalwood. Glorfindel also smells like sword polish and the wood chips and sand of the practice field.

Glorfindel's mind voice is like a golden trumpet.

AU Family:

Glorfindel's wife is Laureamoriel (see "Helpless"). Their son is named Glorendil, but he goes by the name Arandil, or "King's Friend," a nickname he was given by Turgon, although Turgon more often called him "titta Arandilya," or 'my little King's friend." See, in the Desperate Hours Series (some corporal punishment elements) "Dragon's Breath" and several other chapters of "Tales of the First Age," and also "Consequences" in "Tales of the Elves of Imladris." In the gen version of the Desperate Hours series (no corporal punishment elements) see "Dragon's Breath: Gondolin."

Turgon is Glorfindel's friend and older blood-brother, as well as his one-time King.

Glorfindel's mother is Princess Findis' disowned daughter, [Tanien (check)]. So, Glorfindel is a first cousin once removed of Turgon, and his siblings and other Finwion cousins.

Glorfindel's wife Laureamoriel's brothers are Siromo and Helyandur. Their father's brother is Endeyaro, who serves the sons of Feanor. Helyandur marries Turgon's younger sister Lindanelle. Their son is Laurehandon.

Arandil's wife is Elain, their son (Glorfindel's grandson) is Erestor, who is Elrond's friend, blood-brother, and, later, Chief Advisor, in Imladris. Erestor's wife is Taminixe (Taminixie), who is the Chatelaine of Imladris, and the chief of Celebrian's ladies in waiting in Imladris.

Taminixe is also a master swordsmith and jewel smith. She was born in Sirion, and trained by Celebrimbor and other master smiths in Sirion, before Eregion and Imladris. Taminixe sometimes worked with and for Celebrimbor in Eregion, including working with him (and sometimes Annatar) to create the Rings of Power. In addition to forging weapons, Taminixe is a warrior who fought in the Fall of Eregion under Celebrimbor. She escaped the Fall of Eregion and was escorting refugees away from the ruined city when her group met up with Elrond's army. She joined them in founding Imladris.

Taminixe died in childbirth, miscarrying of her and Erestor's first child, a boy (Gaelvaen). Erestor later adopted Melpomaen Erestorion. Melpomaen's mother is Solara, who is one of Laurehandon's descendants, so Melpomaen is also a distant cousin of Arandil and Erestor, and a great-great-etc.-nephew of Glorfindel.

AU Roles/history:

In the mid Second Age, Glorfindel was given permission (by the Valar) to sail back to Middle Earth after he was reborn, in order to serve and protect Elrond, and thereby to protect Middle Earth from the designs of Sauron. He gives his fealty to Elrond, as he had once given his fealty to Turgon.

Glorfindel serves as Elrond's Captain of the Guard, and, informally, as his bodyguard. He is also one of Elrond's most valued advisors, and sits on Elrond's council of Imladris. He is the highest ranking of the Gondolindhrim survivors and their descendants in Imladris, and sometimes speaks for them, although he prefers to avoid politics when he can.

Glorfindel's relationships:

Relationships: Elrond:

Glorfindel loves and respects Elrond deeply, but he also doesn't put up with Elrond putting himself at risk unnecessarily unless Elrond demands that he allow it. Glorfindel calls Elrond "my prince" or "my young prince" or "my young lord" or "my little lord" or "my dear young lord" or "my dear difficult young lord." or sometimes just "my lord" if they're being formal, or "Elrond" if they're being informal, or "my heart" or "grandson of my heart" if he's being tender.

Glorfindel thinks of Elrond as his King, really, even though Elrond himself firmly views his King as Ereinion. Glorfindel is sworn to Ereinion through Elrond, and Glorfindel not-so-secretly believes that Elrond has a better right to be High King of the Noldor on Middle Earth than Ereinion Gil-galad does, because Elrond is Turgon's great-grandson and Turgon was briefly, technically, High King of the Noldor on Middle Earth in the First Age. Turgon, as Fingolfin's son, was higher in the succession than Finarfin, from whom Ereinion is descended, even though Idril (in my AU), when she was offered the High Queenship (by Ereinion and by Ereinion's regent Galadriel, and by Cirdan) did decline, letting the high Kingship go to Ereinion.

Elrond does not like it when Glorfindel calls him "my prince," since he views that higher term of address as weakening Ereinion Gil-galad's claim to the throne. Glorfindel doesn't quite dare to call Elrond 'my King,' because even he realizes that would weaken (and challenge) Gil-galad's claim to the Kingship, and Glorfindel respects (however reluctantly) Elrond's decision to swear his fealty to Gil-galad as his King. Glorfindel does, occasionally, tell Elrond that Glorfindel thinks he would make an excellent King, one whom Glorfindel would be proud to serve. One whom Glorfindel thinks would do an even better job than Gil-galad, but that's neither here nor there, and Glorfindel never says so in as many words to Elrond, because he knows that Elrond loves and respects Gil-galad, and would not like to hear it.

Relationship: Ereinion:

They become fond of eachother, in time. Even though Ereinion knows that Glorfindel really thinks that Elrond should be King. Since Ereinion is secure in Elrond's affection and fealty, he views that with exasperated amusement rather than anger. In time, Glorfindel comes to love Ereinion, and he is protective of him, as he is of all of Elrond's friends. Glorfindel is also protective of Ereinion because Ereinion is Glorfindel's son Arandil's blood-brother and good friend, and Ereinion has always been kind to (and protective of) Arandil. Who is a bit of a daredevil, as a diplomat, at times.

Relationships: Arandil (his son):

In the First Age, Glorfindel called Arandil "my son" or "Cavecat Cub" or "my Cub" or "my boy" or "boy." If Arandil was being difficult, he would sometimes call him "blasted boy." if Arandil was hurt or he was being very tender, "my darling difficult child" or even just "my darling son" or "my darling child." Glorfindel also calls Arandil "brat," not infrequently, or in the Second Age, "Lord Arandil," in an arch tone.

In the West in the later Fourth Age Arandil will call Glorfindel "Atto" or "Father Sir," and Arandil's wife Elain will call him "Ada Glorfindel."

For more about Glorfindel's relationship with Arandil, read "Consequences" in the "Tales of the Elves of Imladris," and "Dragon's Breath" (posted on its own in the gen version, and as chapter 7 in "Tales of the Elves of the First Age" in the corporal punishment AU version. A short excerpt from "Dragon's Breath" is also included further below.

Relationships, Thranduil:

Thranduil would call Glorfindel "Captain Glorfindel" normally, on the practice field or if he's being addressed by him as his student. I think he calls him "Glorfindel" if they're for instance at a casual breakfast with Elrond (as of later in the Second Age), because Glorfindel and Elrond have both told him that is fine. When he was an elfling, Thranduil called Glorfindel by name, and they were playmates.

Depending on the situation, Glorfindel calls Thranduil "young prince" or "Thranduil" or "my student" (an endearment he accords to few). When he is annoyed with something silly that Thranduil has done but is not seriously annoyed with him, he will sometimes call him, fondly, 'sun-for-brains,' a derogatory nickname for blonds that Turgon had used to call his younger friend and blood-brother Glorfindel when Glorfindel was being foolish. When he is being tender, he will sometimes call Thranduil "Sunshine," which was another of Turgon's nicknames for Glorfindel.

Relationships: Erestor (Glorfindel's grandson, Arandil's son):

Glorfindel and Erestor adore each other, usually uncritically. He calls Erestor 'inyonya,' 'my grandson,' 'my heart.' He is very stern about preparing Erestor for combat, though. He made a deal with Erestor: if Erestor practiced his swordsmanship and fighting skills as religiously and seriously as Glorfindel required, then Glorfindel would not try to prevent Erestor from fighting at Elrond's side, if war came to them again (as it did, in the War of the Elves and Men and Sauron, and in the War of the Last Alliance).

Relationships: Celeborn:

From conversation with Kaylee:

I think the relationship between Glorfindel and Celeborn must be very interesting, with a lot of room for deep gratitude and wistful envy on both sides. Glorfindel, because Celeborn got to be there on Balar and in Eregion with Arandil, Elain, and Erestor, as well as Elrond and Elros, when Glorfindel couldn't be because he was dead and then in the West. Celeborn, because Glorfindel gets to be in Imladris with Elrond, Celebrian, and Erestor when he can't be there, because he has to be in Lothlorien with Galadriel and Amdir and Amroth. They've essentially raised and/or looked out for one another's children and grandchildren and heart-children and grand-children.

Honestly, even if we were going strictly by canon and leaving any OCs and Glorfindel's relationship with Erestor out of it, I could still see the gratitude/envy being a thing, because Celeborn was there (or at least near) for Eärendil and Elwing, then he was around for Elrond (and Elros, as long as Elros was there), and when Glorfindel returned and finally got to serve his young lord(s) again, when he ended up serving Elrond in Rivendell, Celebrian went there and Celeborn didn't have her anymore, or his grandchildren hardly ever, while Glorfindel was there to take care of them and Elrond.

Relationships: Elrohir and Elladan (Third Age):

Glorfindel adores Elrond's twin sons, and they adore him. He is very stern with them, when they grow old enough to learn to fight, at least on the practice field. He also has high standards for them, when it comes to arms skills. Elrohir is a particular protege of Glorfindel, being born to the sword and determined to be everything required of his father's heir. Glorfindel and Elladan tend to clash, at times. Glorfindel admires Elladan for being so willing to stand up to him and for Elladan's many accomplishments, even as Elladan drives him crazy. That relationship is showcased in some chapters of "Dribbling Mad."

Glorfindel calls the twins "my Soldier" or, later, "my Lieutenant," or "my Student" (an accolade he accords to few). He also, off the practice field, calls them by name, or calls them "my Heart." Since Elrond is like another grandson to Glorfindel (in addition to being his liege-lord), Glorfindel also calls them "grandson-of-my-heart" or just "grandson-mine."

Relationships: Melpomaen (Third Age):

Melpomaen, in my AU, is Glorfindel's great-grandson, because Melpomaen was adopted by Erestor. Melpomaen is also Glorfindel's many-times-great nephew, because Melpomaen's mother Solara (or Solorara) is descended from Glorfindel's wife Laureamoriel's younger brother Helyandur's son, Laurehandon.

Melpomaen is skittish around Glorfindel, and intimidated by him, for a long time, because Glorfindel has a loud roar and Melpomaen is shy and not confident as an athlete. They come to an understanding in "Consequences," posted as several chapters in the Tales of the Elves of Imladris. Melpomaen learns that Erestor really is Glorfindel's grandson in that story, and therefore that it is stern and imposing Glorfindel, instead of easy-going and charming Arandil, who is the patriarch of Melpomaen's new adoptive family. He also learns that Glorfindel is proud to claim him as a great-grandson.

Glorfindel calls Melpomaen by name, or "Erestorion" on the practice field if Melpomaen isn't paying attention. Off the practice field, he calls him by name, or "Grandson-mine" or "my Heart."

Excerpts from my DH AU stories:

An excerpt from "Dribbling Mad," showing Glorfindel's relationship with Thranduil:

Thranduil actively enjoyed crossing swords with Glorfindel on a regular basis again. He particularly the Balrog-Slayer’s rare sunlight-through-the-clouds smile when his former pupil did something exceptionally well. It was not unusual to see Glorfindel smiling, but it was rare to see him so happy during arms practice. The fighting arts were a discipline which Glorfindel always took very seriously.

********

An excerpt from "Dragon's Breath," showing more about Glorfindel's son Arandil aka Glorendil, posted on its own in the gen series, and posted as chapter 7 in "Tales of the First Age," in the corporal punishment version:

"Glorendil" died in Gondolin, or what was left of his youth did. He took the name Arandil, in honor of the service to the King that he and his beloved father had both shared. Arandil allowed it to be forgotten that the great Glorfindel of Gondolin had even had a son. For Glorfindel became a hero, in the wake of the Fall of Gondolin, and deservedly so, for slaying a balrog at the cost of his own life. Every elf on Middle Earth knew his name, and so did Men, and the Enemy. Arandil was proud of his father - had always been proud of his father - but in the wake of Glorfindel's unlikely success he felt more keenly the pain of his own failure, leaving Turgon behind.

Arandil did not think he could bear to answer questions about his father from all of those people who had never known Glorfindel of Gondolin as anything other than a legend. Glorendil had always had to share Glorfindel, always had to struggle to make his own life in the shadow of his father's golden greatness. Scarred and shadowed and saddened, Arandil did not think that he could live that way any longer. Particularly not since Glorfindel had succeeded in securing the safety of Idril, Tuor, Earendil, and many other Gondolindrim, whereas Glorendil left Turgon to die, willingly or no.

In time, Arandil married a pretty young apprentice healer, Elain, whose mother had carried the baby Princess Elwing safely away from the Kin-Slaying at Doriath. The patience Arandil had gained, in healing from the burns and learning a new trade, brought him to the attention of the young Aran Ereinion. So he became King's friend again, and served Ereinion Gil-galad, first as tutor to the young peredhil Elrond and Elros, then as soldier and diplomat.

A list of adjectives/words that I customarily use in describing/writing Glorfindel:

adamantly, stolidly, fiercely, firmly, astringently, sardonically

Quotes about Glorfindel (or about Gondolin) from canon that I like:

"Glorfindel was tall and straight; his hair was of shining gold, his face fair and young and fearless and full of joy; his eyes were bright and keen, and his voice like music; on his brow sat wisdom, and in his hand was strength." – J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings"

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Thranduil Desperate Hours AU Character Notes:

A work in progress.

For DH AU stories featuring Thranduil, see generally:

"Tales of the Greenwood" in the Desperate Hours Series (some corporal punishment elements) or "Dribbling Mad" in the gen version of the Desperate Hours series (no corporal punishment elements).

Please note that my portrayal of Thranduil (and his family and friends) was greatly influenced by African Daisy's and Kaylee's stories about Thranduil. Nestorion (below) is one of their OCs.

Physical Appearance:

Thranduil, in my DH AU, has long, slightly wavy golden hair, which he wears partly pulled back in warrior's braids with small, beaded jewels interwoven throughout. Thranduil's eyes are an intense shade of sapphire blue, although they can shimmer with slightly different vivid shades of blue, looking as light as sea blue or as dark as cobalt blue, depending on his mood. Thranduil is middling tall and extraordinarily graceful and athletic, although he is not as muscle bound as some of the other warrior elves, such as Elrond and Glorfindel.

Thranduil has very fair skin, which he finds frustrating because his cheeks flush when he is angry or embarrassed. He has high cheekbones and a straight nose.

Thranduil has some of the mannerisms of Lee Pace's excellent portrayal of him in the hobbit movies, especially when he is 'being King' in public, but he resembles more in appearance the model Emil Andersson, as he appears with long, light blond hair. My thanks to African Daisy, as I am borrowing her fan-casting of Emil Andersson as a young Thranduil, and much of her description of Thranduil as he appears in her stories.

Other physical characteristics:

Thranduil smells like a rejuvenating forest wind during a rain storm and fresh blackberries.

Thranduil's mind voice sounds like rain falling in the woods. When he's calm, it's a light rain falling in a light wind, but when he's more emotional, it can 'sound' more like a pounding rain and strong winds.

Relationships and Terms of Endearment:

Relationship: Theli:

Thranduil uses ‘cousin-mine’ or ‘my elfling cousin’ as endearments for Theli. (also pest, brat, bratling)

Relationship: Elrond:

Elrond calls Thranduil "My Noble Star' or "My Star" or "dear cousin." I'm still working on how Thranduil addresses Elrond. I may also have Elrond sometimes call a hurt Thranduil ‘my favorite patient,’ a little fatalistically but still fondly.

My OC Arandil (Glorfindel's son) refers to young Elrond and Elros as "My Stars" collectively, and as "My Healing Star" and "My Questing Star" respectively. So it is a nice continuity, to have Elrond share something that is meaningful with Thranduil in a way specific to Thranduil. And it is something for Thranduil to maybe realize in the course of a story, that Elrond chose a name for him inspired in part on a nickname of Elrond's own that had been special to him.

Relationships, Glorfindel:

Thranduil would call Glorfindel "Captain Glorfindel" normally, on the practice field or if he's being addressed by him as his student. I think he calls him "Glorfindel" if they're for instance at a casual breakfast with Elrond (as of later in the Second Age), because Glorfindel and Elrond have both told him that is fine. When he was an elfling, Thranduil called Glorfindel by name, and they were playmates.

Depending on the situation, Glorfindel calls Thranduil "young prince" or "Thranduil" or "my student" (an endearment he accords to few). When he is annoyed with something silly that Thranduil has done but is not seriously annoyed with him, he will sometimes call him, fondly, 'sun-for-brains,' a derogatory nickname for blonds that Turgon had used to call his younger friend and blood-brother Glorfindel when Glorfindel was being foolish. When he is being tender, he will sometimes call Thranduil "Sunshine," which was another of Turgon's nicknames for Glorfindel.

Excerpt from "Dribbling Mad" text: Thranduil actively enjoyed crossing swords with Glorfindel on a regular basis again. He particularly the Balrog-Slayer’s rare sunlight-through-the-clouds smile when his former pupil did something exceptionally well. It was not unusual to see Glorfindel smiling, but it was rare to see him so happy during arms practice. The fighting arts were a discipline which Glorfindel always took very seriously.

Relationship: Oropher

I think I have Oropher referring to Thranduil as "my son" or "my baby" or "my heir," or as Thranduil-mine. So, in Sindarin, "ion-nin" or "laes-nin" or "hil-nin" or "Thranduil-nin." I use "hil-nin" as a code that formality is required, not necessarily that Thranduil is in trouble but that it's a formal moment.

Relationship: Master Healer Nestorion

Nestorion has affectionately nicknamed Thranduil 'Trouble'

A list of adjectives/words that I customarily use in describing/writing Thranduil:

adventurous, clever, charming, charismatic, adaptable, brave, loving, loyal, stubborn, impulsive, funny, witty, sardonic, sometimes whimsical, sometimes shy (at least in the Second Age)

Canon Quotes about Thranduil that I like:

“On [Thranduil’s] head was a crown of berries and red leaves, for the autumn was come again. In the spring he wore a crown of woodland flowers. In his hand he held a carven staff of oak."- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

"You are more worthy to wear the armour of elf-princes than many that have looked more comely in it."- Thranduil to Bilbo, J.R.R. Tolkien, A Thief in the Night, The Hobbit

“Long will I tarry, ere I begin this war for gold [or jewels].” - Thranduil to Bard, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

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Celebrian Character Notes Desperate Hours AU

Appearance etc.:

Celebrian has long, soft silver curls and bright blue-green eyes. Her hair is as silver as the light of Telperion in her mother's hair, and her eyes are just slightly more blue than her father's emerald green eyes.

I see Celebrian as looking somewhat like the actress Lily James, as she does in the movies Cinderella and Mamma Mia 2. Celebrian in her fierce moods and when she is fighting resembles Lily James in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, only blonde.

Celebrian smells like bluebells in a soft spring time breeze. Her mind voice feels like the brush of cherry blossom petals in a gentle zephyr.

Personality, professional affiliations etc.:

Celebrian is both highly intelligent and highly emotionally intelligent. She is clever as well, both about how people work, and about the ways in which the world works (and how it could work differently if it was tweaked just so).

Celebrian and Elrond are best friends, lovers, and co-rulers.

Like her father Celeborn, Celebrian has more common sense than most of their family members. Celebrian helps Elrond take life less seriously and be less anxious. He is happier and more productive when she is with him.

Celebrian is close friends with her mother Galadriel, despite their very different personalities. Celebrian makes Galadriel laugh and helps her come up with creative, kind, and sometimes even mischievous solutions to her problems, ones which she wouldn't think of on her own. Galadriel makes Celebrian think deeply and hold fast to herself and her dreams. They laugh a lot when they are together.

Like Galadriel, Celebrian is an elf whom others underestimate only at their great peril.

Celeborn and and Celebrian are close friends, too. He taught her how to fight, hunt, lead, and play chess. She is the apple of her father's eye. He could only have given her willingly in marriage to a being whom he trusts, loves, and respects as much as he does his great-nephew, Elrond. Even so, Celeborn was unhappy at first to realize that Celebrian wanted to marry Elrond, because he feared that the Enemy's hatred of Elrond would be visited also upon Elrond's spouse, and he already worried enough over the Enemy's hatred of Elrond on Elrond's own behalf.

Celebrian achieved journeyman or higher status in over thirty-seven different disciplines, including weapon-smithing and jewelry-smithing, but never bothered to continue on and achieve a mastery in any discipline until after she sailed to the West. This breadth of experience served Celebrian well as Lady of Imladris and sometimes-Regent of Imladris.

Family and Friends/Relationships:

Celebrian is married to her double cousin Elrond. They have five (or six) children: the twins Elrohir and Elladan, Andreth (a daughter), Belemir (a son) and Arwen (and they consider Arwen's husband Aragorn, who was Elrond's last foster-son on Middle Earth, also to be their son). They are also parents-in-law to Andreth's husband Gelmir, Belemir's human wife Rossidhiel, and later, in the late 4th Age, to Elrohir's wife Rissaurel Ereinionhil, and Elladan's wife Ciryawende Ereinionhen.

Their grandchildren include Eldarion, Melyanna, Gilwen, Faramir (by adoption), and Grace Gelmiriel.

Their grandchildren-in-law include their granddaughter Grace's husband, their sons' blood-brother, Melpomaen Erestorion and Solarion.

Their great-grandchildren include Faramir's daughter, Mithiriel, who is married to Elurin Diorchil's grandson, Ecthelion 'Theli' Diorchil and Nestorionhen.

Celebrian and Elrond have been 'in love' to some degree or another since relatively early in the Fourth Age, not long after Celebrian achieved her first Yen (turned 144 years old). They did not meet until Celebrian's first trip to Lindon, which did not take place until after her 144th birthday in part because Celeborn was afraid that Celebrian would see the sea and experience the sea-longing (which she did not). Celebrian and Elrond made tentative plans to marry about forty-five minutes after they first met, much to Erestor's bemused surprise. See draft notes for "Late, a Mess, and Barely Repentant." Out of my posted stories, see “Reclaiming” and “Happy Narbeleth, Hir Elrond” in “Tales of the Elves of Imladris.”

Relationships: Erestor:

Celebrian befriended Erestor when they were elflings in Eregion, Celebrian is just a few years older than Erestor. Erestor is one of Celebrian's dearest friends, and her sworn brother.

Relationships: her best friends and principal ladies-in-waiting:

These include Erestor’s wife, Taminixie, Lillassea and Mireth (who is Celebrian’s healer, and one of African Daisy’s and Kaylee’s OCs whom I borrow).

Timeline:

Celebrian was born in Evendim, then lived in Khazad-dum, then in Eregion. Little elfling Celebrian's encounter with a dangerous Enemy spirit just outside the Evendim settlement is what made Galadriel and Celeborn pack up Evendim lock, stock, and barrel and move it to Khazad-dum, and then Eregion.

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Magic on Middle Earth in the DH AU More Generally:

My thoughts on magic in my AU version of Middle Earth are derived partly from my observations and memories of book canon, and, to a lesser and more selective extent, movie canon. I also came up with additional abilities/nuances which 1) work for me for plot purposes, 2) make sense to me, and 3) are interesting to me.

Mostly I've left out individual examples, both canon characters and original characters. In terms of canon characters, a lot of what I came up with comes from Galadriel, Elrond, Glorfindel, Thranduil/Legolas, and Ivorwen (Aragorn's grandmother). In terms of original characters (and/or canon characters I've modified enough that they also fall into this category for purposes of magic), I draw from my depictions of Finduilas, Faramir, Ivorwen, and Faramir's children (mainly Mithiriel). I have also been inspired by African Daisy’s and Kaylee’s depictions of Thranduil and their original characters (mainly Felith and her family) in their AU Greenwood.

Both elven and human magic tends to run more strongly through female descendants than male descendants, although that is not always the case. This is less true with respect to the 'hybrid' elven/human/Maiarin magic possessed by the descendants of Luthien (see Elrond as an example).

Elven magic and human magic can also develop in someone whose family had shown no signs of it in the past.

A note on magic and neurodiversity and magic and PTSD: Often but not always, magic tends to be stronger in those person's who are neurodiverse (such as on the Bipolar Spectrum or Autism Spectrum). Trauma and overcoming trauma can make inborn magical abilities stronger, so it is not uncommon for strong users of magic (of one form of magic or of many), such as Galadriel and Faramir, to have (or have had) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (or to be PTSD survivors).

And, of course, no matter how powerful a magic user is, they can always be defeated by someone less powerful who is cleverer, quicker, or more resilient. Sometimes magic is a disadvantage even, because it keeps the person from thinking of the full variety of answers to their problem.

See also description of Elrond's magic in chapter 1 of "Out of Time" (once posted).

Effects of overuse of magic (pressing yourself up to or beyond the limits of your own current capabilities):

Weakness, loss of consciousness, lingering fatigue and weakness, slow healing, increased appetite/thirst, and sometimes headache (but not usually headaches as sharply painful or long lasting as the throbbing, pounding headaches that Theli gets from using his abilities).

Elven magic:

Elven magic includes: mind magic (mind speech, sharing thoughts and images silently with others, protection from intrusion by other minds), prophecy/foresight, control over their home environment, and compulsion.

Mind magic alone any elf can develop, if they grow old enough and have a strong enough will. Some elves are born with a greater potential for it, and some of those will develop the ability earlier.

For prophecy/foresight, control over their home environment, and compulsion, I think that an elf has to have an inborn potential in order to develop those skills. Normally, the abilities do not develop until the elf reaches complete physical maturity at 100 years of age. Often, the potential will remain latent (and impossible to train or control) until the elf is several thousand years old. (In canon, Glorfindel in the First Age did not seem to have the gift of prophecy, but by the Third Age, he did).

'Control over their physical environment' would be similar to Galadriel's ability to protect Lothlorien, Elrond's powers being greater in Imladris, and Thranduil having the cooperation of the uncontaminated trees of the Greenwood. Elves with this power are also able to hear messages from the water/trees/earth/wind. Humans with the human corollary of this power generally are not able to hear messages like this.

It could be argued that Galadriel and Elrond are only able to do everything they can do because of their Rings, Nenya and Vilya. I don't think that that is the case. I view the rings as essentially augmenting their powers. What they can do is the same, they just have more power to do it with (in addition to the canon powers of the Rings). I see them as being able to interweave the rings' powers with their own magics, but as paying a price for doing so.

See also blood magic as used in elven magic from what Rithoril tells Luthavar in "Not My Home," available here () (gen and d)

Human Magic:

Human magic includes: Prophecy/foresight, control over their home environment, protection from intrusion by other minds, and (more rarely and mostly not until the Fourth age or at earliest the late Third Age) an ability to more directly affect with what 'is' and what 'is destined to be.' I came up with that last ability in part because I recall Tolkien having indicated something along the lines of Men having the most ability to impact their destinies and innovate. But mostly I just thought it would be fun to write about.

For my stories about human magic users, see Mithiriel in ‘A Few Minutes’ and 'Burning Mad,' which are the anthology ‘Tales of the Telcontars’ for the Discipline series.

How much of human magic comes from Elros Tar-Minyatur and his heritage from Luthien is unclear. I think being of Elros' line increases the native likelihood of developing useful powers, but I don't think that it's the only factor. However, only Men of Elros' line have some of the elven power of mind speech.

Human magic generally involves some type of sacrifice, more so than elven magic. For 'good' magic users, this means sacrificing a great deal of energy and focus, and sometimes a little of their own blood to make a spell or working stronger. For 'bad' magic users (or ‘blood magic’ users), they make unwilling sacrifices to increase their power, such as sacrificing other living, thinking beings, or at the very least hurting them and taking their blood against their will.

In terms of 'control over their home environment,' I think that humans who live somewhere a long time and love that place and its people also develop an increased affinity for their environment and an ability to use that to their advantage, beyond the advantages of simply 'knowing' the land.

The more generations this relationship endures for, the greater the connection between the people and the land. For instance, if Imrahil of Dol Amroth wants the tide to pick up, it sometimes (but not always) will. If Aragorn wants it to rain in Armor (then later also Gondor), it sometimes (but not always) will. If Faramir wants his rangers to go unseen in the forests of Ithilien, they are more likely to go unseen. It isn't something that 'always' works, it's more like rigging the deck a little. Not enough that someone would necessarily 'notice' that you are cheating, but enough to make you more likely to win over the long run.

For instance, an army invading Gondor will have to deal not just with Gondor's human defenders and its natural obstacles (such as rivers), but if the rulers of that land exercise their influence, they can help the land itself resist. The rivers will flow just a hair faster when the invaders try to cross, the rocks underneath their feet will shift, roots will trip them, they'll find every deep part of a marsh and every bramble in the forest, etc. For more on this, see chapter 2 of “Cat-Swiping Paw Mad.”

Humans can increase this effect by appeal to a Vala or Maia with some power over that part of the natural world, such as on water by praying to Ulmo, and in the forest by praying to Yavanna.

Sauron has the same type of influence in Mordor, only more so, which is part of what made the War of the Last Alliance so hard for the Allied armies.

Imrazor of Dol Amroth and his family introduce an element of voluntary blood magic to this process, by annually shedding a few drops of blood onto the earth or water while they pray to Eru to bless their land and people, and that type of thing.

Dwarven and Hobbit Magic:

I haven't thought enough about these topics.

I imagine that dwarven magic has something to do with rocks. Dwarves can hear rocks and caverns sing, including being able to hear the voices and feel the presences of their ancestors who have lived in and been interred in the cave realm they are living in. Dwarves can interact with this song by singing back to it.

Because rock is impervious to most substances (albeit not running water), it is difficult for outside forces (such as Sauron's power/evil) to influence dwarves.

Hobbit magic would be practical magic. It would focus on life, growing things and food and such. Because that focus is so alien to magics of control and pain such as those practiced by Sauron, their magic/spirits could have more natural resistance to evil.

Melian's magic:

We know that Melian protected the elves of Doriath from Morgoth and his lieutenant and their supporters with 'Melian's Girdle,' also sometimes called the 'Veil of Melian.' I believe that Melian was a Maia who served Yavanna. I've also given her a subsidiary backstory where she also served Ulmo, although not to the extent that she served Yavanna.

I see Melian's powers as including the power to 'hide' or 'veil' and protect the place where the people she loves live, including the ability to use the waters (rivers, creeks) of Doriath to help 'set' that protection, since running water carries a blessing well and is inimical to Sauron's creatures.

I'm not going to go into my thoughts on Maiarin magic/abilities more generally, in part because it seems to have been somewhat more developed by Tolkien's canon, and in part because I'm just not that interested at this point (outside of Melian and her descendants).

The line of Luthien hybrid magic:

I think that Elrond and Theli and the other part-elven descendants of Dior (focusing only on the 'elven' descendants for now) inherited both potentialities for human magic and elven magic. The mixture of the two, along with the Maiarin blood from Melian, results in a type of 'hybrid vigor' when it comes to magic.

From their human side, they also inherited a propensity to grow fast, heal more slowly, and be susceptible to certain virulent human diseases.

There are peculiarities to the magic of the line of Luthien. Most of her descendants have both, or at least some, of the following gifts, at least to some degree:

1) An affinity for clean, running water. They can always find it, sometimes some of them can make it spring out of the ground (not from nowhere, but from a place where water already flows under the ground). Some of them (like Elrond) can make creeks and rivers flow faster or slower. The particularly dedicated healers (Elrond, Theli, Elladan) learn to use this power with respect to blood flow. Blood is mostly water, it 'flows' as it is recirculated in the body, and they can eventually learn to slow or quicken the speed at which blood flows, throughout the whole body or with respect to a specific place (limb, extremity, organ). It usually takes centuries for them to learn how to do this, though, because making a mistake with it or doing it clumsily is a great way to kill someone by accident. Elrond and his descendants in particular also have an additional affinity for water due to Ulmo's partiality for them and their forebearers.

2) An affinity for going unseen when they wish to. The most powerful of them (Elrond, Elurin/Eldun) can use this power to 'veil' or 'hide' the place where they and their people live from people who desire to harm them, or just from anyone they want to keep out. They are not as capable or powerful at this as Melian. Melian protected an entire large kingdom. Elrond protects a city, and it is one that is particularly easy to hide because of the physical location he picked for the Eregion exiles to hide, where he later founded Imladris. Elurin/Eldun protects a dozen or so villages, but his 'veil' can be pierced by someone very determined, or by someone who has power of their own (or power loaned to them by their master, such as a lieutenant of Sauron's).

Theli and also Arwen have the potential for this, but it is a power that would not normally develop until they were thousands of years old. Elrond realizes that with respect to Arwen, and doesn't do more than teach her the theories behind using the power responsibly. Eldun/Elurin hadn't had the benefit of the same training that Elrond had had from Galadriel and also the Maiar and Amaneldi during the War of Wrath. Eldun/Elurin was entirely self-taught, and like some other mature adults, he did not remember how old he was when he became capable of learning how to do the things he had the potential to do. Because of that, he saw the potential for this power in Theli, and tried to make Theli learn to use it before the power was actually available to Theli to 'use.'

By Dagor Dagorath, Theli can use this power to help hide himself and his fellow aviators from the Enemy aerial forces. Even after they are noticed, he can make it harder for the Enemy to accurately target them, particularly Men who serve the Enemy.

This 'hiding in plain sight' or 'going unseen when they wish to' power does not work very well for Luthien's descendants when the person they are trying to hide from is also one of Luthien's descendants. On the other hand, if more than one of them or a whole group of them are all focused on keeping their party undetected, they are more likely to be able to go unseen. The ability has a cumulative effect, to some extent. See chapters 2 and 3 of “Cat-Swiping Paw Mad” for more about this.

Elurin/Eldun and Elured/Eldun came up with the following rhyme to explain their abilities to their children and grandchildren, because they weren't going to explain their real ancestry.

"We grow fast, but we heal slow,
We can go unseen when we wish it so,
We can make the waters rise and flow."

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Please note that my character notes for Theli, like my character notes for Elrond and Faramir, are particularly short and a work in progress, because I have so much to say about Theli and I have written so much about him, even though he is just an original character, that it is hard for me to compress him for a character biography.

‘Who is Theli?’ in brief:

In (very) short, Ecthelion “Theli” Diorchil and Nestoriohen is:

1) the grandson of Elurin Diorchil;
2) a friend and comrade-in-arms to Thranduil and Legolas (and later Faramir);
3) a healer who is a protegee of Elrond’s, as well as a protegee and foster-son (and later adoptive son) of Nestorion Nestaethchil, and the adoptive brother of Galadaelin Nestorionhil (both OCs belonging to African Daisy and Kaylee);
4) the husband of Mithiriel, who is the magic-using daughter of Faramir and Eowyn;
5) the Lord-Consort of Imladris in the Fourth Age, after Elrohir and Elladan abdicate their claim in favor of their adoptive nephew Faramir’s daughter Mithiriel (Faramir being the biological son of Aragorn and the adopted son of Aragorn and Arwen in this Desperate Hours AU); and
6) a companion to Legolas when he and Gimli sail to the West after Aragorn dies.

Backing up a little, Theli and Thranduil (and everyone else) do not know that Theli is Elurin Diorchil’s grandson until the early Fourth Age. In this AU, Elured and Elurin Diorchil survived the Fall of Doriath and were taken in by one of the most reclusive groups of the Nandor (the wood elves). For more about this, see “Tales of the Lost Twins.” The gen version is here: https://archiveofourown.to/series/2742127 and the version with some corporal punishment elements is here: https://archiveofourown.to/series/2742124.

Elurin went by the name of Eldun. By the time Theli was born in the late Second Age, Eldun had come to be called ‘the witch of the Northeastern Woods’ of the Greenwood. Theli’s father is Elurin/Eldun’s only son, Eurig, and Theli’s mother is Pelinel, who dies in childbirth. Theli, when he was not quite a yen (144 years) old, left his reclusive people to travel to Amon Lanc, the capital of the Greenwood, to train to become a healer. For his leaving, Theli was disinherited by his grandfather Elurin/Eldun and by his father Eurig. So, Theli took the patronymic “Erynion,” or ‘forest-son,’ a father-name used by wood elves who are bastards, or otherwise unable to use a family name. For a story about a young Theli, just a little before he left his reclusive tribe, see “The Young Healer’s Journey,” gen version available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/16878228/chapters/39637932, and the version of that story with corporal punishment elements can be found starting at chapter 3 of the “Tales of the Second Age,” available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/494518/chapters/39637608.

Theli met and befriended Thranduil during the War of the Last Alliance, during which Theli worked as a healer and, in the final years, fought with the Imladrin irregulars as well as healed. During the Third Age, Theli became a warrior in the Greenwood’s army as well as a healer. See, in the version with corporal punishment, most of the “Tales of the Greenwood,” available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/232498/chapters/355630. All of the chapters of “Tales of the Greenwood” feature Theli except for chapters 1, 8, and 11-13. See, in the gen series, “Mountains of Mourning,” available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/1936251/chapters/4181916 and “Conversation at the end of the Watchful Peace,” available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/11793381/chapters/26598180 and “True Colors” available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/11817195/chapters/26662794 and “Dribbling Mad” (which I am going to finish) available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/12887622/chapters/29441016

Along with Elladan Elrondion and sundry other companions, Theli ran certain dangerous errands for Gandalf (Mithrandir) during the late Third Age. See, in the gen version, “Dribbling Mad” (see link above) chapter 18, which is here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/12887622/chapters/33763326. See, in the version with corporal punishment, “The Firebearer’s Dogs,” available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/216693/chapters/325862 and chapters of “Dribbling Mad” in the “Tales of the Greenwood” which begins here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/232498/chapters/29439912 starting with chapter 18 of “Dribbling Mad,” entitled “Revelations I.”

In the early 4th Age, Elurin/Eldun sails, leaving Theli, as a bequest, the jewelry he was wearing the day Doriath fell. This jewelry is a sufficient clue for Thranduil to figure out that Elurin was Eldun and Elboron was Elured, which meant that Thranduil’s long-time friend Theli is also his younger cousin (as well as making Haldir, Orophin, and Rumil all also Thranduil’s cousins, as they are the great-grandsons of Elured/Elboron in this AU). See the different versions of “Dribbling Mad,” links above, starting with chapter 15, “The Mystery Box.” As background, in this AU, Thranduil’s father, Oropher, was a great-great etc. nephew of King Elu Thingol of Doriath (Elurin Diorchil’s grandfather).

About twenty years after the events of “Dribbling Mad” in the early 4th Age, Theli marries Mithiriel Faramiriel. See “Cat-Swiping-Paw Mad” (which I am also going to finish) gen version here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/37608649/chapters/93877576 and version with corporal punishment elements here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/37608070/chapters/93876133

Mithiriel is a magic-user. See, in the gen version, “Burning Mad,” available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/7210286. See, in the version with corporal punishment, “Tales of the Telcontars” chapter 66, “A Few Minutes,” available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/214796/chapters/7719854 and chapter 69, and “Burning Mad,” available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/214796/chapters/16360607

Theli and Mithiriel are instrumental in helping the Reunited Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor and their allies to win the three different Blood Mage Wars which take place in Rhun and Khand when Mithiriel is a young adult – middle aged. The antagonists in those conflicts are former pupils of the Blue Wizards, Alatar and Pallando, who have turned to human sacrifice in search of power, and who were trying to use dark magic to resurrect Morgoth. In between the First and Second Blood Mage Wars, Elrohir and Elladan abdicated their claim to the rule of Imladris in favor of Mithiriel, who became the Lady of Imladris, and Theli became the Lord-Consort of Imladris and the Chief Master Healer of Imladris’ House of Healing. Mithiriel and Theli oversaw Imladris’s conversion from a primarily elven haven to a haven where humans and dwarves came to live in equal (and then greater) numbers than the elves, who were starting to sail in larger numbers. In other words, Mithiriel and Theli oversaw the transformation of Imladris into a haven which would endure beyond the departure of the elves. When Theli and Mithiriel sail with Legolas and Gimli, their second son, young Elrond, became the new Lord of Imladris.

Theli and Mithiriel are given special permission to sail to the West, even though Mithiriel is human. They sail with Legolas and Gimli, just after Mithiriel’s grandfather Aragorn dies. See, in the gen version, “From the Gray Havens,” available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/6456049 and, in the corporal punishment version, the same story posted as chapter 68 of the Tales of the Telcontars, available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/214796/chapters/14774848. For their whole group’s voyage to the West, see, in the gen version, “Songs on the Straight Road,” available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/10173407/chapters/22597367, and, in the corporal punishment version, the same story available here starting at chapter 7 of “Tales of Oversea in the Fourth Age,” available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/3517526/chapters/22597526. For their group’s arrival and welcome in the West, see, in the gen version, “Welcome Travelers,” available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/10629918/chapters/23514801, and, in the corporal punishment version, the same story available here starting as chapter 14 of “Tales of Oversea,” https://archiveofourown.to/works/3517526/chapters/23515059.

The character tag I am currently using for Theli is: Ecthelion “Theli” Diorchil. Some of my stories featuring him can be filtered by that tag, but not all of them. Yet. I am gradually working on making it so that this tag for him as a character is consistent throughout all of my stories.

Physical Appearance:

Theli is a short but sturdily built peredhel, with a merry manner and a cheerful smile. He has dark, midnight blue eyes and ash blond (or light brown) wavy hair. He keeps his hair cut 'short' for an elf, at just past his shoulders, and wears it partly braided back. Theli has a heart-shaped face, a shallow dent in his chin, and dimples in his cheeks when he smiles (as he most often does).

Theli looks rather like a young Heath Ledger, but with dark blue eyes and ash-blond hair. In other words, he looks much like Heath Ledger, circa his roles in "Roar," "10 Things I Hate About You," "Patriot," and "A Knight's Tale." Some of Heath Ledger's shy but sweet, brave, teasing and cheerful mannerisms in the movie "Patriot" (where Heath Ledger played the actor Mel Gibson's young adult soldier son) are like Theli's mannerisms.

Other Sensory Details:

Theli smells like wild mint and clear, clean fast flowing forest streams.

His mind voice is like a cheerful babbling brook, refreshing but soothing.

Theli’s Magic:

When he was young, Theli had available to him some Maiarin and human magic, as described in Chapter 1 (Elrond character bio) and chapter 4 (Magic on Middle Earth in this AU more generally) of this story. Theli also had the potential to develop elven mind-magic as he got older. However, Theli’s access to most of his magic was impacted negatively by his grandfather Eldun/Elurin trying clumsily to teach him to use his powers before he was old enough and mature enough to do so. Even up until the Fourth Age, Theli finds it painful to use most of his magic consciously. I am thinking about posting some supplementary Theli character notes, addressing more of his struggles with magic, at a later date.

Roles Professions/Affiliations:

Theli is a healer, specializing in trauma injuries, emergency surgery, child birth, and poisons and antidotes. Later, in the 4th Age, after he works with a tutor who helps him overcome his Dyslexia, he passes the exam to become a Master Healer. As a healer who specializes in surgery, Theli sometimes thinks of surgical solutions before other solutions. He’s also prone to wanting to try creative or radical solutions, sometimes at points other experienced healers would consider premature. He is very patient with those healing from injuries, and sympathetic to their desire to be active again as soon as possible. He's willing to entertain compromises in that respect, to an extent that some other healers would consider to be ‘moving too fast.’

As a healer, Theli sometimes uses his Maiarin magic in healing and diagnosis. Given that he doesn't know that he is part a Maia until the 4th Age, he often just has 'feelings' and 'hunches' while healing that he cannot explain, a higher than probable number of which prove out. This trait sometimes frustrates other healers, including Galad.

Theli is also a warrior. He has a history of varying levels of insubordination, but he is a good enough scout and battle-healer that most of his superiors are happy to have him under their command. He holds various ranks during his time as a soldier in Greenwood’s army during the Third Age. Theli is clumsy, and had to work hard to become a skilled warrior. Being peredhel, he is a little stronger than the average elf. He specializes in unarmed combat, and is an excellent wrestler. Theli, like Elrond, finds being a warrior challenging, because he is a ‘healer in his heart,’ and he always hates causing harm to others (even orcs). He also finds it hard to learn that he has to keep thinking and acting like a warrior until the fighting is entirely over, instead of stopping to help the wounded as soon as he can.

In the 4th Age, after receiving what Thranduil considers to be the ‘necessary training to behave appropriately as a royal lord in most situations,’ Theli becomes a successful diplomat. First for the Greenwood, and then later also for Imladris. He is good at helping people from different backgrounds to reach compromises that they can all be pleased with.

Personality/ some strengths and weaknesses:

Perhaps his greatest strength is that he is a good friend, and that he wants to be friends with everyone. He believes that everyone is a good person (at least deep down inside), or at least that everyone has the potential to make better choices and become a good person. Theli feels that everyone has the potential to become great at something, and he wants to help them achieve their dreams.

Theli is very creative and he has a great memory for most things that he cares about. He has trouble watching others fumble at tasks that he knows how to do already (unless he is teaching them how to do it better), and he isn't always tactful in such situations. In these ways, Theli is similar to Thranduil (in this AU). The two also share a fondness for jokes, stories, and interesting curse words and phrases, as well as a certain sense of whimsy and willingness to be reckless if they feel they have cause.

In Theli's eagerness to solve problems, he can sometimes be hasty, although he rarely makes the same mistake twice. In giving everyone the benefit of the doubt in terms of their intentions, he can get taken advantage of. Theli does not hold grudges in such cases, but again, he rarely makes the same mistake twice.

Theli is Dyslexic, or ‘reverses his letters’ as the people of Gondor put it, a human learning disability that he inherited from his Great-great Grandfather Beren. This means that he forgets the spellings of words he doesn't use often and has trouble reading words that he is not very familiar with, which means he reads most material at a slower than acceptable speed for a professional. He improves in most of these respects after twelve year old Mithiriel realizes that he reverses his letters (like her sister and her uncle Borimir), and then he gets help learning to read and write well despite that disability.

Theli is skilled at working with younger elves and Men. He is good at going from a mentor/protégé relationship with them, to an equal friendship as they become mature adults. This is part of how he becomes good friends with Legolas (who is thousands of years younger) and many Men, including Men of Dale, as well as Adrahil and Faramir. It is also part of why he is able to fall in love with Mithiriel, despite their great age difference.

Theli is almost perpetually optimistic. It is natural for him to almost always look on the bright side. That said, he has insecurities when it comes to believing that his friends and loved ones will continue to care for him, even after he makes mistakes and/or disappoints them. The root of this insecurity lies in his having been banished by his family for choosing to leave their reclusive tribes to go and live in the wider world and become a healer in Amon Lanc. In part because he doesn’t have any official family in his life for thousands of years (outside of his second cousins in Lothlorien who have adoptive parents who are active in their lives), Theli has a tendency to be excessively self-sacrificing in his work as a warrior. He feels that it is better for him to risk his life, than for someone who has a family who loves them to do so. This is not a trait of his that his friends and loved ones much care for.

Theli is smart, but he is not anywhere near a genius like Elladan, or even a wise scholar like Elrond or Erestor. As one of his former commanding officers once said, ‘Theli is hardly ever the smartest elf in the room. But he has a way of asking good questions, and re-framing situations, that makes it easier for the smartest elves in the room to come up with new possible solutions for the problems that are facing them all.’

Theli’s Relationships:

Relationships: Thranduil:

Theli and Thranduil are friends. Their friendship goes through various vicissitudes during the Ages, but endures. Thranduil calls Theli, who is substantially younger, “Pest” and “Bratling,” and, later, also “Cousin-mine.”

Relationships: Legolas:

Theli is one of Legolas’ favorite mentors. They later serve together in Greenwood’s army, and become close friends. Theli chose to sail with Legolas, in order to help him in his transition to the West.

Relationships: Mithiriel:

Mithiriel is Theli’s wife. Being human, she is Ages younger than he is. For her temper and her forthrightness when she is standing up for others, Theli calls her “Flash-fire.” She calls him “Green-Sword,” which is a nickname for warrior-healers in Gondor, since they wear a green patch on their surcoats to denote that they are healers as well as warriors.

Relationships: Master Healer Nestorion:

Nestorion is an OC of African Daisey’s and Kaylee’s. He is the Chief Royal Healer of the Greenwood. Theli was Nestorion’s apprentice, and, later, his foster-son (then adopted son). Nestorion calls Theli “my little healer.”

Relationships: Elrond:

Elrond becomes a mentor to Theli during the War of the Last Alliance. Elrond didn’t know that Theli’s grandfather Eldun was really his own Uncle Elurin, but he still felt a closeness and a kinship with Theli, from their very first meeting. However, Elrond did know that Theli’s great-uncle, Elboron/Elured, had served as one of Elrond’s guards during the War of the Last Alliance (see Tales of the Lost Twins, above). Elrond would have looked after Theli as the great-nephew of an old comrade-in-arms, even if he hadn’t taken to him upon meeting him. Elrond thinks Theli is a very promising healer, and that he has an exceptionally kind heart. Elrond is very fond of Theli, and had hoped that Theli would return with him to Imladris after the War of the Last Alliance. He respected Theli’s decision to return to the Greenwood, but he continued to look out for Theli until he sailed. Elrond was thrilled to learn, from Arwen’s and Thranduil’s letters sent West, that Theli is his first cousin once removed. When Theli sails and they are reunited in the West, Elrond calls Theli alternatively his cousin or his grandson, since Theli is married to Mithiriel, who is Arwen’s granddaughter (by Arwen’s adoption of Faramir who is her husband’s biological son). Elrond also calls Theli “little Healing Star,” a variation of his treasured nickname from his own childhood mentor, Arandil Glorfindelchil.

Relationships: Master Healer Galadaelin Nestorionhil:

Galadaelin Nestorionhil and Thranorion is a talented Master Healer. He is Theli’s long-suffering senior co-worker, as one of his father Nestorion’s deputy royal Greenwood healers. Galad and Theli later become friends, and, even later, come to value one another as brothers. See, “Trusting the Water, [insert link once posted.]

Theli Wears the Following:

A steel chain covered in midnight blue silk, upon which are separately tied two totems and two rings. The first totem is a bloodstone willow tree, dark green and flame red, which was a gift from Nestorion upon Theli’s first passing the exam to be a full healer. The willow is a symbol of healers, in this AU, as well as a symbol for protection from all harm (which made it a good choice for a former apprentice who was about to train to be a soldier as well as a healer).

The second totem is a dark blue lapis lazuli, carved in the shape of a multifaceted torch, with waving flames on top. It was a gift from Prince Adrahil of Dol Amroth during the days when they ran dangerous errands in Enemy lands for the Wizard Mithrandir together, along with Elladan and Theli’s cousin Orophin. The torch is a Dol Amroth symbol for someone who seeks after wisdom.

The first ring is a friendship ring made out of woven steel, yellow gold, rose gold, and white gold. It was a gift from Elladan, who also gave one to Orophin, and to the heirs of their human fellow errand runners, including to Faramir and Imrahil and his sons, as heirs of Adrahil of Dol Amroth.

The second ring is Theli’s marriage ring from Mithiriel. It is a thick-band of white gold etched with healing herbs, set with a large oval midnight blue cabochon sapphire. The sketches of the healing herbs etched around the band were drawn by Theli's adoptive brother, Galad.

Theli and Mithiriel’s Children:

Theli and Mithiriel have four children: twin sons, Elrond and Nestor, then a strong-willed daughter, Illinare, and a sweet youngest child and younger daughter, Ceredisgail. Their children are given the choice of being counted as Men or elves. Elrond and Illinare choose to be counted as Men, and Nestor and Ceredisgail choose to be counted as elves, and sail West at the same time as their cousin Thranduil and their Great-great etc. Uncle Celeborn.

Elrond and Nestor both become master healers. They both inherit healing magic from their father. They are identical twins, both with their father’s features and their mother’s red-gold hair and gray-green eyes. They take after their father in build, but are about six inches taller than Theli (luckily for them). This still makes them of only middling-height, for elves.

Young Elrond, as he is called, even though he is the younger twin, chooses to follow in his mother’s footsteps as Lord of Imladris, and in his father’s (and great-grandfather Elrond Peredhel’s) footsteps as Chief Master Healer of the Imladrin House of Healing. Elrond chooses to be a Man, marries a rescued slave who was born in the Summer Islands off the coast of Khand, named Miyala. Elrond and Miyala have three children, including a daughter, Tandisi, who returns to the Summer Islands, and facilitates them becoming closely allied with the Reunited Kingdoms ruled by her cousin Elros Eldarionchil.

Elrond’s older twin brother, Nestor, apprentices under his uncle Galad in the Greenwood. He lives in the Greenwood, and later sails with the elves of the Greenwood. In the 4th Age in the West, Nestor marries Thranduil’s middle son, Lithidhren. They adopt four children on a ‘humanitarian aid only’ mission back through the Veil of Arda to Middle Earth, and bring them back to Tol Eressea.

Theli and Mithiriel’s older daughter, Illinare, is fiercely determined and stubborn, and completely dedicated to those she loves. Illianre has flame red hair and sparkling blue eyes just a shade lighter than her father’s midnight blue eyes. Illinare meets and marries a warrior of the Lossoth during a diplomatic mission to treat with them as part of the Imladrin delegation. She becomes a leader amongst the Lossoth. She inherits the greatest share of mother Mithiriel’s magic, even though she rarely uses it. She is called “Illinare Storm-Breaker” by her adopted people. At first, for her ability to mitigate the damaging effects of powerful storms upon their shoreline settlements. Later, the name also refers to the one time that she used her magic to divert a storm into the path of a Blood Mage invasion fleet, effectively destroying the fleet (although some of the slaves unwillingly serving in the Blood Mage ships were rescued by the Lossoth during the storm). After that, Illinare slept for a month. Illinare has a number of children and adopted children with her different husbands, as is the way amongst the Lossoth (in this AU).

Theli and Mithiriel’s youngest child and younger daughter, Ceredisgail, is sweet and loving. Ceredisgail inherits her mother’s gray green eyes and her father’s wavy ash blond hair, which she wears long and partially pulled back in braids. Her face is heart-shaped and her eyes are very wide. She is taller than both of her parents, and willow slender. Ceredisgail is clever, a competent warrior, and a superb rider. She serves as a lady-in-waiting in the courts of her grandmother Arwen then her aunt-by-law Jalilla in Minas Tirith, and in the court of the Queen of Rohan. She lives most often in Rohan, where she is one of the Shield-Maidens who accompanies the Queens and princess of Rohan when they travel. She also frequently travels to the Greenwood to visit her brother Nestor, and to Imladris to visit her brother Elrond, and sometimes even to the far northeastern coast of Eriador, to visit her sister amongst the Lossoth. Ceredisgail marries her third cousin, Rumil Emlynion and Celebornchil, who is a great-grandson of Elurin Diorchil (as well as an adopted son of his Great-great etc. Uncle Celeborn and Aunt Galadriel). In the West, Ceredisgail and Rumil have at least one child, a daughter, named Arwengail, who is a playmate of Thranduil’s grandchildren by his oldest blood son, Thandrin. Rumil, as a descendant of Dior, is in the line of succession of Doriath Gaeronwest on Tol Eressea. He and Ceredisgail serve at times as King and Queen of Doriath Gaeronwest, and are also elected to serve to serve as Yen-King and Yen-Queen of Marillaeglir, the Kingdom which represents all of Tol Eressea in dealings with the older Kingdoms of Aman (the Vanyar, Noldor, and Teler kingdoms on Aman, which were founded in the First Age Years of the Trees, ruled historically by Kings Ingwe, Finarfin, and Olwe).

Some Quotes from Various Sources that Make me Think of Theli:

“Some people have inspired whole countries to great deeds because of the power of their vision. And so could he. Not because he dreams about marching hordes, or world domination, or an empire of a thousand years. Just because he thinks that everyone’s really decent underneath and would get along just fine if only they made the effort, and he believes that so strongly it burns like a flame which is bigger than he is. He’s got a dream and we’re all part of it, so that it shapes the world around him. And the weird thing is that no one wants to disappoint him. It’d be like kicking the biggest puppy in the universe. It’s a kind of magic.” ― Terry Pratchett

“Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.” – Colin Powell

“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” - George Eliot

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

This last quote makes me think of Theli and Mithiriel, and of their friendship with Legolas (and of Legolas’ friendship with Gimli, too, for that matter, with their sailing to the West together):

“Take me with you. For laughs, for luck, for the unknown. Take me with you.” ― Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn

Chapter Text

Not just Theli's parents, Pelinel and Eurig, but also Theli's much, much younger twin siblings are present in the West at the time of “Trusting the Water,” which takes place not long before the wedding of Theli’s son Nestor to Thranduil’s son Lithidhren. Theli's Ages-younger twin siblings, Tinuviel and Barahir, and Theli’s nephew Calaer, are all about the same age as Theli's new youngest grandchildren, Leander and Rhiannon, who are the human equivalent of about seven and five years old, respectively. Theli’s mother Pelinel named her younger children after First Age heroes, just as she named Theli after Ecthelion of Gondolin, the ‘other’ balrog slayer.

Theli's mother Pelinel looks much like her son. She has wavy hair that is somewhere in color between ash blond and light brown. Unlike Theli's hair, which is always dark blond/pale brown, her hair has mahogany and gold highlights in direct sunshine or lamp light. Pelinel has the same deep, dark midnight blue eyes as her son. Her figure is curvaceous, she isn't quite plump, but she is as close to it as an elf can get.

Most people who know Pelinel think that she is wonderful, if sometimes overwhelming! She is a whirlwind of good cheer and happy bustling about. She takes that far enough that she can be a bit of a busybody. But most people don’t mind that about her, since she does it in such a kind and thoughtful way. She can be a gossip, but she is good about only sharing information about others that they don't mind being shared with her audience at the time. She is also good at keeping secrets. Pelinel is a lot like her son, Theli, in that she is strong willed yet easygoing, and very friendly and caring. Pelinel loves stories of all kinds, and story-telling, and has a tendency towards day-dreaming when she isn't busy.

She loves color and embroidery. Growing up in the reclusive villages protected by Eldun/Eluring, she became an expert at dying wood elven homespun fabrics a variety of colors, and adding what decoration to them that she could with materials they could make, or with supplies that she could buy or barter when the reclusive villages of her home people met trusted tinkers and tailors from the rest of the Greenwood. Later in life, she becomes an expert at commissioning tapestries and consulting on the designs and color schemes, and she enjoys working on the embroidery needed to bring them to life herself.

Pelinel inadvertently gets involved in matchmaking, and in helping friends who are having disagreements to reconcile. Like her son, she loves people and making people happy and helping them to divine their heart's desires and to achieve their goals.

If Pelinel had survived Theli's difficult breech birth, she would have packed up Theli and left their home when Eldun made it clear that he wasn't going to stop trying to 'train' Theli in mind magic despite that causing Theli pain. Theli was about the human equivalent of seven or so years old then, and Pelinel was pregnant with his twin younger siblings. She would have gone south to Amon Lanc to stay with her foster-brother, Lamendir, who was then working as a free-lance accountant of sorts, under Luthavar's patronage. That would have resulted in the future(s) foreseen by the priestess Rithoril at Luthavar's urging in "Not My Home," wherein extra Seers of the line of Luthien in Oropher's army during the War of the Last Alliance saved Oropher's life, and many other lives, too.

In the main AU, Pelinel of course died just after Theli was born, from childbirth complications. Desperate to get back to the child she had left behind, Pelinel struggled to be reborn as soon as Mandos and his Maiar would allow that she was ready and permit her to leave the Halls of Mandos. She had been told, while waiting in the peace of the Halls of Mandos, that she would not be able to return to Middle Earth, where her child and husband were. But she'd heard that one elf - Glorfindel - had been allowed to sail back to Middle Earth, so she hurried, anyway. One chance in millions was better than none. Pelinel, like her son Theli, was an optimist, who never really gave up on the goals nearest her heart, no matter if they were impossible.

Upon being reborn, Pelinel petitioned, repeatedly, to return to Middle Earth. Her petitions were denied, on the basis that Glorfindel had been an exception. He had been sent back to guard Elrond from Sauron, and by doing so, to protect everyone on Middle Earth. Pelinel felt that a mother's desire to protect her child was just as legitimate as a hero's dedication to protect his King's great-grandson, but she eventually accepted that she wasn't getting anywhere, and that she needed to go do something else for awhile, during which time she would try to think up new arguments and perhaps gather support for her being allowed to return to Middle Earth and her child. She also did not let being denied her heart's dearest wish make her bitter. Bitterness wouldn't help, after all.

As a general rule, Pelinel doesn't believe in bitterness, or in blame. She does believe in giving up, for now, and regrouping, to gather allies, experience, and ideas, in order to try again, later. Being willing to dedicate time and effort to a long, back and forth campaign such is that is how she managed to attract her beloved Eurig, and convince him to marry her, despite the obstacle of her comparative youth, and the even greater obstacle of Eurig's father Elurin/Eldun, the Witch of the Northeastern Wood, not approving of Pelinel at all. In Eldun's eyes, Pelinel was too frivolous, too daydreamy, and entirely too interested in stories of the outside world and in people who weren't of their villages. Unfortunately for Elurin/Eldun, his more outgoing twin, Elured/Elboron, did like Pelinel.

After Pelinel was reborn in the West in the Second Age and gave up for a time on convincing the powers that be to let her return to Middle Earth, she joined Denethor and the other Laiquendi living in the forests of Tol Eressea. She was adventurous and liked people and negotiating agreements, so Denethor chose her to be one of his ambassadors to the more 'formal' kingdoms of Tol Eressea, such as the kingdom founded by the survivors of Doriath and the kingdoms founded by the survivors of Gondolin and Nargothorond.

Pelinel was in Doriath Gaeronwest when her mentor and friend Elured/Elboron was reborn in the very late Second Age. He was open about his identity from the start, so he and his wife Anwen ended up living mostly with his parents, Dior and Nimloth, and Elured took his place as the heir apparent of Doriath Gaeronwest. At that point, Dior and Nimloth learned that Pelinel was their granddaughter-in-law, and Elured knew that she was his niece-by-law. They welcomed her into the bosom of their family. She still split her time between Doriath and the Laiquendi, and became respected by both peoples as a representative of the other.

When friends of Theli's who had died during the War of the Last Alliance were reborn, Pelinel went to meet them. If they had family or friends already in the West, she waited for them to be established before going to introduce herself. She thanked them for their friendship to her son, and asked them to please tell her about him. She told them that they could call on her at any time, if they had need. She promised to share anything she heard about the loved ones they had left behind on Middle Earth, and asked them to return the favor with anything new that they heard about her son.

If Theli's reborn friends had no one to greet them, then Pelinel volunteered to welcome them to the West herself. With the support of her grandparents-by-law, Dior and Nimloth, she used her resources as a lady of Doriath Gaeronwest's royal family to make sure that Theli's newly reborn friends had everything that they needed. Even after they became established, she checked in with them occasionally, to make sure that they were making a good adjustment to the West, and doing well. If they were having a hard time, she stayed with them or moved them into her household, and didn't leave them to their own devices until they were happy and well-adjusted. It was, in part, her way of being close to her son. It was also just the right thing to do, in her opinion, and Pelinel was resolved to always doing her best to help people when she could.

Every 150 years or so, Pelinel marshalled her new arguments for why she - and other parents with children on the other side of the sea - should be allowed to sail back to Middle Earth, and presented them to any of the Maiar and Valar who would listen. She pointed out, as time went on, that she would be happy to dedicate her life to not just helping her son, but to helping her son Theli, and his King Thranduil and Queen Minaethiel and their people of the Greenwood, to resist Sauron and his machinations. Since her son was a healer and a warrior and busy fighting the Enemy and his servants anyway, she felt that she - or any other parent whose child was thusly occupied - had just as good an argument as Glorfindel for being allowed to return to Middle Earth.

None of her arguments were persuasive to the Maiar and Valar. So, she was never successful, but that did not deter her from trying, although otherwise she had a busy and happy life and didn't worry anymore than she could help about things she couldn't change. She did worry a great deal about her son, but she knew that Theli wouldn't want her to be unhappy. She was proud of almost everything she'd learned about the adult that her baby had grown into.

The Maiar of the Lorien Gardens grew to enjoy Pelinel's visits to make her petitions to the Maiar of the Hall of Mandos. She was good company, and a good embroideress who enjoyed chatting a she worked. She knew almost everybody in the lands of the Laiquendi, the Kingdom of Doriath Gaeronwest, and the Kingdom of Eryn Brongalen, and she was happy to share any news of her friends and acquaintances which she felt they wouldn't mind the people of the Lorien Gardens and the Vanyar, Maiar, and Valar of [Valdemar] knowing. She was also very good at helping the newly reembodied learn to feel at home in the physical world again. She was also a parent who had left a child behind on Middle Earth under sad circumstances, yet who, despite that, and despite dearly missing her child and desiring greatly to reunite with him, had allowed herself to find happiness and contentment in the West - to flourish, even.

So, the Maiar of Este and Irmo asked Pelinel to counsel some of the newly sailed or reborn parents who were deeply grieving having been forced to leave their children behind. Pelinel accepted this charge, and grew close to many of her fellow parents who missed their children on Middle Earth. She became one of the directors of a large network of informants who collected information on all elves whom a newly sailed elf had known well in Middle Earth, and then passed that information on to the family in the West who would welcome hearing new developments in the lives of their kin and friends on Middle Earth.

Throughout the Third and Fourth ages, every time someone with a friendly connection to her son sailed or was reborn, Pelinel continued to travel to greet them, thank them, offer to share news with them, and make sure that they had everything that they needed. Often, along the way, she also befriended them herself. Amongst the connections Pelinel made this way were her cousin-by-marriage Emlyn and his wife Carys; Thranduil's mother, Queen Felith; Thranduil's wife Minaethiel and her three middle children; Thranduli's cousin Coruthelion Luthavarchil; Celebrian (after she'd healed); Elrond; and many, many other elves from Imladris, Lothlorien, and especially the Greenwood.

After the War of the Last Alliance, Pelinel hadn't been happy to learn that her husband Eurig hadn't left their reclusive people when their son did, to accompany Theli when he went to train as a healer in Amon Lanc. But she understood that her husband would never leave or defy his father Eldun without her support, and she wasn't really surprised by that, only disappointed.

In addition to that unhappiness, Pelinel didn't like the rumors that reached her ears of how Eldun had treated Theli, and of how Eurig had been a negligent parent, but she reserved judgment until actually getting to talk to Elurin/Eldun and her husband Eurig after they sailed in the early Fourth Age. She was wildly unhappy to find out that the truth was, if anything, worse than the rumors, but she didn't waste time on the past. She told Eldun that he could reverse his banishment of Theli and promise never to hurt him again, or otherwise Pelinel wouldn't set foot in any village he governed. Eurig could come with her or stay with his father; either way, he owed their son an apology for not having been a better father.

Eldun refused to change and Eurig dithered, so Pelinel didn't spend any of her time living with them. Eventually, Eldun decided he'd do most of what Pelinel (and his twin brother Elured and parents Dior and Nimloth) wanted him to do. After that, Eurig made amends to Pelinel, and traveled with her between the Laiquendi settlements (both Eurig's villages and the less reclusive villages who owed their allegiance more proximately to Denethor), Doriath Gaeronwest, and Eryn Brongalen (Greenwood in the West). She also traveled more widely to all the kingdoms of Tol Eressea and Aman proper, either as a representative of King Dior and Queen Nimloth and their heirs, or in her role as an unofficial greeter and counselor to the newly sailed and reborn.

I have it in mind that Pelinel and Galad's mother became friends after Theli and Galad became foster-brothers, but I have will have to check with Emma about that. Pelinel did befriend Oropher and Felith, as well as the rest of her Iathrim in-laws. Pelinel also befriended Celebrian and Nestorion's girlfriend Mireth, who was reborn in the late Third Age. Mireth had died when Celebrian's traveling party was attacked in the Third Age after the Watchful Peace. After Elrond sailed, Pelinel befriended him, too. Anyone who had been good to her son was someone she was grateful to, and wanted to spend time with. After how loving of a mentor and, later, a father Nestorion has been to Theli, Pelinel thinks the world of Nestorion. [Check with emma and Kaylee re: references Galad's mother [name?] and Mireth]

After Theli and Mithiriel sailed, Pelinel and Eurig came to meet them. Theli's reunion with Pelinel was happy and largely uncomplicated. They took great joy in getting to know one another and finding out how much they had in common. They always made each other laugh, and they delighted in now always having someone they could count on to help them when they wanted to help someone else, no matter how quixotic the quest.

Theli's reunion with Eurig was somewhat less happy and uncomplicated, but Theli is forgiving and Eurig was profoundly apologetic and besides had only ever done what Eldun insisted on, so things worked out ok. Pelinel had nothing but admiration and appreciation for Nestorion, so she had no qualms with Theli thinking of Nestorion as his father first. Euring mourned the father/son relationship that he could have had with Theli if he'd been a better father earlier, but he also appreciates and is grateful for what Nestorion had done for Theli, and doesn't really resent Nestorion.

In the West, Theli continued to call Eurig 'Da' and Nestorion 'Ada.' Theli thinks of Nestorion as his father, and of Eurig, essentially, as a new family member he is getting to know again under new circumstances. Theli and Eurig forge a friendship based on their mutual interests in healing and apothecary. It helps that Theli is very forgiving, and that Eurig is a genuinely nice person who is kind to Theli and Mithiriel and wants to make things up to them. Theli likes Eurig, and admires him for overcoming his addiction and developing the inner strength to defy his father in order to be with his wife and child. Theli is a big believer in ‘better late than never.’ Theli and Eurig work together as healers on developing addiction relief regimes and medications.

Eurig and Theli develop a warm and friendly relationship in time, but it is not a typical parent-child relationship. This is in contrast to Pelinel and Theli, who do become very much mother and child as well as good friends. Pelinel would do anything for her son and her daughter-by-law and grandchildren. Eurig cares about his son, but not enough to fight for the right to be a real father to Theli, who is an adult who already has that place in his life filled.

In the West, until Nestorion sails, Elrond, Elured, and Dior act as Theli's father-figures (or grandfather figure, in Dior's case) more than Eurig does. Eurig views himself as a quiet, simple elf. He loves his son, and respects him, but Eurig is more than a little intimidated by everything that Theli has been and done. Theli has a lot more life experience than Eurig does, and he is much more worldly. In part because of all of this, Eurig wouldn't dare dream of telling Theli that Theli shouldn't do something because it's not safe for him, or that Theli shouldn't wear something or shouldn't speak so informally at royal get-togethers, because people won't respect him as much if he does. Even after Nestorion arrives in the West, Elrond, Elured, and Dior continue to look out for Theli, although they all respect Nestorion's role in Theli's life as his father. Dior doesn't particularly like having someone who isn't 'family' be the father of one of his grandsons; but he knows that it's not a situation that he can change. He also comes to like and respect Nestorion in time.

During the time in between when Theli sails with Mithiriel, Legolas, and Gimli, and when Thranduil sails with the rest of the Greenwood elves and Nestorion and Galad, Thranduil's father Oropher and mother Felith also look out for Theli. Theli and his wife are some of their newly arrived grandson Legolas' dearest friends and most constant companions. Also, they know that their son Thranduil loves Theli (although Thranduil's letters never say so in as many words), so they look out for him on Thranduil's behalf. They also look out for Theli and Mithiriel on Nestorion's behalf, just as they know that Nestorion is looking out for Thranduil on Middle Earth.

Pelinel was one of the influential elves who helped to fund Legolas' flying machine company. She was also one of the ‘taste makers’ who helped Mithiriel turn that company into not just a recreational and public service remote rescue organization, but also a highly commercially successful business, with branches in every kingdom of Tol Eressea and Aman.

Eventually, after Theli and Mithiriel have already met most of the rest of their family and become established in the West, Theli and Mithiriel went with Pelinel and Eurig to visit Eldun where he and his people had settled in the forests of the Laiquendi. Legolas and Gimli came with them, as did Elured, Elrond, and Celebrian. Eldun began to make nice with Theli, as he had promised Eurig and Pelinel that he would do, and as he'd done with other elves whom he'd banished for leaving 'his' villages for the wider world in Middle Earth. But then Eldun learned that Mithiriel was a descendant of Mithrellas and therefore a descendant of Maglor Feanorion, and Eldun banished Theli again (along with Mithiriel). Disgusted, Pelinel and Elured, Elrond, and Celebrian left, too. They also made it clear that they would not return until Theli and Mithiriel were welcome. Eurig, again, dithered.

Eurig attempted to get Eldun to accept Mithiriel (and Theli), but without success. Eventually, Eurig left his father, choosing to be with his wife (and his son and daughter-by-law).

Nestorion sails West with Thranduil and the rest of the Greenwood elves (at the same time as Celeborn and his adopted sons and their families and the rest of the East Lorien elves). Eurig finds crowds overwhelming, so he doesn't come with Theli and Mithiriel to greet the new arrivals, but Pelinel does. She is very pleased to meet Nestorion, and offers him to consider her his tree-sister.

Tree-family is a concept that the elves of the West came up with to recognize 'family of family.' If, as a father-by-law, you like your son's new wife's parents, you might offer to them to be your tree-brother and tree-sister. Or, if you had died on Middle Earth and your daughter was taken in by new parents, you might offer to those new adoptive parents (or parental mentors) to be your tree-brother and sister.

As Pelinel explains to Nestorion, her offer for him to consider her his tree-sister is a a formalized way of saying that she not only recognizes, and respects, that he is essentially a co-parent to her son, but also that she values him and likes him enough to offer to help him in any way she can at any time that he might call upon her to do so. They are not only formally allies in protecting and loving Theli (and any other children that either of them may have); but they are also (or will also work on becoming) friends who will help one another even outside of anything having to do with their children.

Pelinel also offers to Theli's foster-brother Galad for him to consider her to be a tree-mother to him. This form of tree-family-hood means much the same, only it additionally means that, as her tree-son, Galad would have right of abode and board in any place that Pelinel considers her home.

Even before Theli (let alone Galad) had arrived in the West, Pelinel had become tree-sisters with Galad's mother, Pelassiel. In addition to the above, this meant that they could rely upon one another to help their sons deal with difficult family members. Pelinel would help Pelassiel protect Galad from Breigon, even if Pelassiel wasn't there to do so. And Pelassiel would help Pelinel protect Theli from Eldun or even Eurig, even if Pelinel wasn't there to do it herself. Helping one another to deal with difficult family members and with family feuds is another function of tree-family, and another reason to have a large tree-family. Anyone in your tree-family can be relied upon to protect eachother's children and tree-children, either from bitter family members on the warpath, or from other enemies.

After Nestorion and Galad arrive in the West, every time that Pelinel hosted family gatherings in the apartments she has in the palaces of Doriath Gaeronwest or Eryn Brongalen (or at her and Eurig's house in Doriath Gaeronwest, or at her and Eurig's tents in the forests of the Laiquendi), she would always also invite Nestorion, Mireth, and Galad, as well as Theli and Mithiriel (and anyone else Theli wanted her to invite). I would imagine that Nestorion would eventually become friends with Pelinel on her own account.

In time, Theli's great-grandparents, King Dior and Queen Nimloth of Doriath Gaeronwest, invite Nestorion, and his older adoptive son, Galad, to consider them as their tree-grandparents. This offer means not just formally recognizing and honoring Nestorion and Galad in their roles as their descendant Theli's adoptive father and brother, but also granting Nestorion and Galad the status of honorary members of the Iathrim royal family. Being someone's family tree grand parent (or great-grandparent) implies the same rights of abode and board as becoming someone's tree-parent. Nestorion and Galad were a bit surprised by becoming part of the Sindarin royal family of Doriath Gaeronwest, but they accepted it, for Theli’s sake. Also, having been royal healers for the Greenwood royal family since the Second Age, they already knew how to behave unexceptionably at royal functions (and were actually better at it than Theli was, on average).

After things have calmed down from the excitement of the rest of the Greenwood elves arriving in the West, Eurig eventually meets Nestorion and Galad (he already knew Mireth). However, their meeting is more awkward, and I would imagine that Nestorion and Eurig never have much in common outside of Theli. Although Nestorion is polite to Eurig for Theli's sake, he always disapproves of Eurig, not so much for having been a poor father to Theli due to Eurig's grief and substance abuse problems while Theli was young (although that too), but more for the many centuries wherein Eurig stayed with Eldun despite Eldun's having banished Theli upon threat of death.

Eurig is kind-hearted but rather weak-willed, at least in comparison to his wife and his children. He's the type of person who never wants to hurt anyone. He remains under the sway of his domineering father until well after they sail West, and he always wants to make Eldun happy, even after he chooses Pelinel and Theli over Eldun until Eldun eventually relents. Eurig is also very shy and doesn't like crowds or public speaking. He is a good healer in many ways, and a very capable and creative apothecarist. Theli (and Nestor) consult with Eurig professionally, on occasion. Eurig has much more trouble than Theli when it comes to remembering to dress properly and behave formally during royal occasions, and is more abashed by complaints and corrections than Theli, so Eurig tries not to attend very many formal royal events if he can help it.

A few centuries after Thranduil and Celeborn sail, Eldun finally gives in and decides to make peace with the descendants of Maglor, including his granddaughter-by-law. Theli and Mithiriel visit Eldun again, along with their son Nestor and daughter Ceredisgail and Ceredisgail's husband Rumil and daughter Arwengail (and also with not just Nestorion and Mireth, but also Celeborn and Elrond and his family and Thranduil and his family, who are all suspicious of Eldun). Things go better that time, but are still awkward. Theli and Mithiriel (and their children) continue to visit Eldun on very rare occasions (and only when at least two of Nestorion, Celeborn, Elrond, or Thranduil are available to travel with them, because the four of them don't trust Eldun alone with Theli and his family). Theli and Mithiriel mostly feel up to handling anything that Eldun might do if he decides to take against them again, but Nestorion, Celeborn, Elrond, and Thranduil feel very strongly that several of them should go along, and so Theli and Mithiriel don't argue the matter.

After the successful reconciliation with Eldun, Eurig splits his time between living in Eldun's village and living wherever his wife is currently living (which is often wherever Theli and Mithiriel or their children are living). Pelinel visits Eldun every other year or so when her husband goes there to stay, and whenever Theli or his children do, but not much more often than that.

Eventually, Eurig and Pelinel decide to have another child, and end up with their twins, Tinuviel and Barahir. Before then, Eurig had agreed to live only with Pelinel, except for short visits, until their new child(ren) were of age, and to only visit his father when Pelinel was willing to.

About a dozen years after Tinuviel and Barahir are born is the point at which the second part of "Cat-Swiping-paw Mad" takes place. That is, some months after Lithidhren and Nestor get into trouble during one of their 'humanitarian aid only' trips back to Middle Earth and need to be rescued, along with the children they subsequently adopt.

Their wedding takes place not long after that, but Lithidhren and Nestor have been a committed couple for centuries. When Theli and Mithiriel hosted events such as Nestor's birthday, they always invited Lithidhren and his family, too, and vice versa when Thranduil and Minaethiel hosted events for their son Lithidhren. Pelinel (and Eurig) had already unofficially considered Lithidhren to be a grandson-in-law.

Pelinel and Eurig are both at Lithidhren's and Nestor's wedding, which is hosted at Thranduil's and Minaethiel's private home. Those who know Eurig are proud of him for going through with attending the wedding, because they know how overwhelming he finds it to be around crowds that big at all, let alone at a semi-formal occasion.

During that wedding visit, Pelinel officially invites Thranduil to consider her one of his tree-mothers, since she is a grandmother-by-law of his son Lithdihren (and because she likes, and values, Thranduil). Thranduil accepts, because he likes (and respects) Pelinel. Eurig doesn't offer for Thranduil to consider him a tree-father and Thranduil doesn't ask; they aren't that close. But Eurig also doesn't mind that his wife makes these formal familial alliances with people who are important in the lives of their children and grandchildren.

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As of the War of Wrath, Ereinion is a young but fully grown elf with sandy blond warrior’s braids in the Nargothorondhrim style. He has hazel eyes, which, when he is regarding his twin foster-brothers (and cousins) Elros and Elrond, are usually soft with affection.

Ereinion has a rich baritone voice, deeper than the musical baritone of his twin cousins. When he is off duty, he often wears plain but well-made hunting leathers rather than a uniform. The style of his warrior’s braids – and his muscular upper arms – indicate that he is an officer of the Nargothorondhrim cavalry.

Ereinion's hobby is sketching and painting. He often makes portraits of his family members and friends in domestic settings, or engaged in outdoor pursuits. Later in the Second Age, he joins the Artists's Guild in Lindon under the name Finellach. Elrond sometimes covers for him so that Ereinion can go and sketch passers-by in public parks and at fairgrounds. He donates any money he makes to the Artist's Guild for charity, but he enjoys knowing that he has a skill with which he could earn a living if he weren't the King. He also likes to talk to his people without the distance between them that is always present when they know that he is their king.

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I haven't written as much about Elrohir and Belemir, but they aren't 'also-rans' to me. Elrohir, despite his quick temper, is a well-regarded diplomat and government leader, as well as a military leader. He was Elrond's ambassador to Arnor's government in Annuminas for decades at a time. Elrond trusts Elrohir to govern Imladris in his absence more than he trusts Elladan, because Elrohir is less easily distracted. Between the two twins, Elladan is the genius, but Elrohir is the one with both wisdom and steadiness. He's also a military genius.

As a warrior and military leader, Elrohir is one of the best strategists and tacticians whom Glorfindel has ever trained. In part, that is why Elrohir didn't make as much time as Elladan did for learning different disciplines. Elrohir specialized as a warrior and officer even more than Elladan did as a healer. Elrohir is a military historian, and Glorfindel's alter-ego in the field, when Glorfindel isn't there himself to make decisions for keeping Elrond and his children safe and Imladris protected. In the army of any other kingdom on Middle Earth, Elrohir would be a senior captain who sometimes served as a general. Imladris' permanent standing guard is a relatively small and flexible organization, although every elf in Imladris is trained to defend themselves and others. Glorfindel's officers all take the rank of lieutenant rather than anything higher, because Glorfindel never desired to be promoted above Captain (for several different political reasons, some of them Glorfindel’s and some of them Elrond’s).

Elrohir is actually a permanent lieutenant in Imladris' guard, whereas Elladan is not. Elladan always goes with his twin brother whenever Elrohir leaves Imladris to take on a military task, but in Imladris, Elladan often goes to reserve status and is only a militia officer, which has permitted him time to pursue his own interests as a healer. Almost every skill that Elladan has ever mastered is connected either to his profession as a healer, or to his dedication to the warrior-arts. The reason for that latter dedication is his love of his twin, and his desire to guard Elrohir's back, and be able to help Elrohir with the responsibilities of military leadership. If it weren't for Elrohir, and Elladan's being Elrond's second-heir, Elladan would never have become more than competent to defend himself and others. He's not a warrior in his heart, although he's managed to mostly hide that from Elrohir, so that Elrohir has someone to rely on.

As a side note, Elrond also is not a warrior in his heart, although very early training by Maedhros inclined him to the warrior arts with dedication serious enough to nearly match his military- minded twin. Further training from Glorfindel after his arrival on Middle Earth later honed Elrond’s skill at arms to a nearly peerless level.

Like Elladan, Elrohir is a master weaponsmith and blacksmith. He's also a master tanner, since armor is sometimes made of leather as well as metal. He's also captained military vessels along the Lindon coast and in the large lake by Annuminas (Lake Evendim, I think?).

Elladan has fallen in love with three human women during his life, and almost married one of them. Elrohir always followed his brother whenever Elladan spent time with the women he was in love with, but he always secretly hoped that the romances wouldn't work out (which they didn't, in part because Elladan couldn't bear to be parted from his twin for most of eternity).

In the West, Elrohir will marry Ereinion Gil-galad's oldest daughter and heir Rissaurel, and will sometimes be Rissaurel's King and co-ruler when she rules Ereinion's kingdom in the West. Elladan takes a long time to marry in the West, because he never loves an elleth with the same passion that he'd had for the human women he'd fallen in love with in Middle Earth. Eventually, he and Rissaurel's next oldest sister, Ciryawende the scholar and sailor, become close friends and decide to marry. Love comes for them in time, but Ciryawende, like Elladan, probably would have fallen in love with a human if she'd been born on Middle Earth (a human male, incidentally, as most of Ciryawende’s few romantic liaisons before Elladan were with elven males).

Elrohir is a fully trained healer, although only since about fifty years prior to the Ring War. Before that he was a highly competent battle field healer but not fully trained. His twin and his Uncle Orophin being badly injured in Mordor during their ninth mission for Mithrandir (although no one knew what they were actually doing there) is what convinced Elrohir that he needed to become a fully trained healer.

Elrohir is also a poet and a well-respected author of philosophy treatises and fiction books as well as military histories. He keeps the former completely quiet, even Elladan doesn't know about all of it. Only Melpomaen does, because Melpomaen is Elrohir's editor and publisher (through publishing companies established and 'run' by Elladan, although actually mostly run by Melpomaen).

Under a pen name, Elrohir also writes children's books (the 'Little Elfling and' series, which was Legolas' favorite and then Aragorn's favorite when they were growing up). Elrohir first started writing the books as a gift for elfling Legolas. The series began with 'Little Elfling and the Scary Wizard,' and more titles followed. Then Elrohir wrote some new stories for the series when Aragorn was growing up as his foster-brother Estel, including 'Little Elfling and the Bad Kitty,' which chronicled the time that Estel met a wounded mountain lion.

Elrohir is the 'leader' amongst all of his siblings, and in the threesome of himself, Elladan, and Melpomaen. The three of them, and in particular the twins, complement one another. Elladan has the widest breadth of knowledge, Melpomaen usually supplies the legal, economic, and scholarly side, and Elrohir uses them both as resources in deciding how to use what they know and what they can find out to achieve any given objective. That's not to say that Elladan and Melpomaen never play the role of the leader, but normally it is Elrohir. He's also the one whom his siblings come to first when they need to get things done. Elladan is the one they usually come to for a sympathetic ear, but it's usually Elrohir they find if they need other help, or someone to help them fix a mistake they've made. Again, the twins complement each other in taking care of their younger siblings.

Belemir is a less thoroughly explored character, in part because of how early he died. He was gentle but brave and capable, like Faramir. He was his slightly younger sister Arwen's best friend. He was a great warrior, and not just skilled but also very cunning. But, like Faramir, Elrond and Elladan, Belemir wasn't a warrior in his heart. He became a warrior and a war-leader because of who he was - Elrond's son - and because Middle Earth and Annuminas needed a warrior and a war-leader.

He was only the equivalent of two years older than Arwen, and she was his best friend. Of all of Elrond's and Celebrian's children, they are the two who felt the greatest affinity for humans. Arwen was a lady-in-waiting to the queens and princesses of Arnor in Annuminas for much of her early life, and Belemir served as a knight of Arnor and a captain in Arnor's army. Most often, he was an armed companion and advisor to the kings and princes of Arnor.

Belemir was a scholar and a musician, and he had that quiet part of his nature in common with Melpomaen and even Elrohir. I expect that Belemir co-wrote treatises and books with Elrohir at times. Belemir had a quieter sense of humor than the twins, but he was also in some ways a more inspiring leader than either of his older brothers. He had a knack of remembering everything about everyone he had ever met, and knowing what to say to inspire them. Again, he was a lot like Faramir.

Even more than any of Elrond's other children, Belemir and Arwen always did what they thought was right, no matter the consequences, and they could always count on one another for support.

Belemir married Princess Rossidhiel, the older sister of Arvedui, the last King of Arthedain (the longest surviving successor kingdom to Arnor). She was, of course, human, so he made Luthien's choice to accept a mortal life span and go to the human Halls of Mandos (rather than immortality with the possibility of being reborn in the West like an elf).

Arwen was deeply saddened by losing her 'twin' to mortality, but at the same time she wanted what was best for Belemir, and was happy for him. She was one of their wedding attendants, and stayed in Annuminas as one of Rossidhiel's ladies-in-waiting.

When Arwen was on a visit back to Imladris, the Witch-King of Angmar attacked Annuminas. Belemir helped his brother-by-law King Arvedui to direct the defense of Annuminas during the Witch-King's siege. Belemir went to meet the Witch-King in single combat, knowing that he almost certainly could not win, in order to cause a distraction so that messengers could escape Annuminas to take word of its plight to Imladris, Gondor, Lindon, Mithlond, and their human allies the Lossoth who lived to the north of Mithlond.

Belemir succeeded in his aim, but he was killed by the Witch-King. Rossidhiel was pregnant with twins when her husband Belemir died, and then she died not long after (and before their children were born). She drowned with her brother Arvedui before they could be rescued.

I see Belemir most clearly through Arwen's eyes. He appears with Arwen in a few of the Tales of Imladris ('Yuck' and 'Stolen Child', I think) as well as being the inspiration for Arwen's fighting on in "Dedication" in Tales of the Third Age in Twilight.

Faramir reminds Arwen strongly of Belemir, as I wrote in "Dedication." Faramir's daughter, Mithiriel, reminds Arwen of both Belemir and Rossidhiel. There are more reasons for these resemblances, as is explained in “Changeling Child,” in the “Lucky Fall” AU (wherein Boromir lives, but everything else is pretty much the same), and in my unfinished story 'The Valiant Die But Once.’

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Master Scholar Aegir – a dwarven scholar from the settlement in the Gray Mountains ruled by Lord Gunarr, a cousin of the King of Khazad-dum. Master Scholar Aegir is a former patient and a friend of Elrond’s. Elrond is visiting him just before the events of “Out of Time” start. Aegir’s wife is named Embla. It may not be specifically revealed in this story, but it is actually Embla who is involved with opposing Gorthebar from within her settlement, and who has contacts with the underground network of Gorthebar elves working to undermine Carphadril.

Alyariel – a huntress capable of speaking with beasts, who served the Sons of Feanor.

Angtheldir - an OC borrowed from African Daisy and Kaylee – Angtheldir is one of Thranduil's guards. He is a cousin of Thranduil's oathbrother Veassen, and of Himlas. They are all grandsons of Rhoven, who is the captain of Oropher's personal guard.

Lord Arandil Echoriadion aka Glorendil Glorfindelchil - only son of Lord Glorfindel of the House of the Golden flower of Gondolin. A warrior of Gondolin who served as one of Turgon's bodyguards at the time of the Fall of Gondolin, and who blamed himself for failing to save his King. Because of that, he changed his name to Arandil and allowed it to be forgotten that he was Glorfindel's son. On the Isle of Balar, he served as the Lord Governor of Elrond’s and Elros’ household while they were underaged, and was one of their mentors. Arandil was one of the few retainers who accompanied his twin lords to their clandestine meetings with the sons of Feanor during the War of Wrath, where the two groups exchanged intelligence (and the twins (and Arandil) got additional training in war and magic from Maedhros, Maglor, and their followers).

Captain Borothor – an OC borrowed from African Daisy and Kaylee – the Captain of Thranduil’s personal guard. Boronthor is the grandfather of Sergeant Teliemir, who is one of the senior officers in Thranduil’s army company.

Lieutenant Calithil – an OC borrowed from African Daisy and Kaylee – Calithil is the older brother of Thranduil’s blood-brother, Linwe. Calithil is married to the only daughter of Captain Forothon, the commander of the Meordanas garrison and leader of the town of Meordanas. Calithil is stationed at that garrison, and, along with Forothon’s son Gwaelar, serves as one of Forothon’s most valued deputies.

Lieutenant Caradhon – one of Glorfindel’s officers in Elrond’s Imladrin guard. Also frequently serves as one of Elrond’s personal guards. On this visit to the Gray Mountains, Caradhon is Glorfindel’s second-in-command. Elrond has been friends with Caradhon since his earliest childhood in the Havens of Sirion. Caradhon is only a few decades older than Elrond. He served as an apprentice carpenter in support of the Allied Armies during the early part of the War of Wrath, and spent a lot of time with Elrond and Elros, who were there as an apprentice healer and an apprentice smith, respectively.

Carphadril – an OC borrowed from African Daisy and Kaylee - the leader of a sub-group of Avari elves who have settled in the far northeast of the Greenwood. Carphadril is a powerful magic-user, who sacrifices some of her own people in blood-magic rituals to enhance her power. Carphadril is antagonistic to the Kingdom of the Greenwood ruled by King Oropher, which surrounds her own settlement on three sides.

Lieutenant Essereg – senior lieutenant who was in command of Thranduil’s patrol. He was killed by Carphadril while captive in Gorthebar.

Everil – an escaped thrall who served the Sons of Feanor. Everil was capable of mind-speech with animals at a distance, like Thranduil. Her husband Merion, and their children, Ellavorn and Rhossiel, serve Elrond now, in Imladris.

Fileg Halmirion - an OC borrowed from African Daisy and Kaylee - Fileg is a young officer in Greenwood's army. He is a friend, blood-brother, and comrade-in-arms to Thranduil. He is also Thranduil’s distant cousin. Fileg often keeps his royal cousin company during Thranduil’s duties as crown prince, including serving sometimes as his scribe, valet, and sounding board. Fileg has wheat blond hair and sky blue eyes, just like his twin sister, Aiwen. He is normally merry, but can be serious when he needs to be.

Captain Forothon – commander of the Greenwood Army garrison at the town of Meordanas. Uncle-by-law to Thranduil’s oath-brother Linwe.

Gorthebar – the settlement of Avari elves led by the Witch-Queen Carphadril (also borrowed from African Daisy and Kaylee).

Lord Gunnarr – lord of the settlement of dwarves Elrond was visiting in the Gray Mountains. A cousin of the King of Khazad-dum.

Captain Himlas – an OC borrowed from African Daisy and Kaylee – one of Thranduil’s oath-brother Veaseen’s oldest cousins. Veassen and Himlas (as well as Angtheldir) are all grandsons of Rhoven, who captains Oropher’s personal guard.

Linwe - an OC borrowed from African Daisy and Kaylee - Linwe is a young officer in Greenwood's army. He is a friend, blood-brother, and comrade-in-arms to Thranduil. As the oldest of their little group of blood-brothers, Linwe is very protective of the others. Linwe is a tall and muscular elf with copper red hair and jade green eyes. His older brother is Lieutenant Calithil, who is the son-by-law of Captain Forothon of the Meordanas, where Calithil is posted.

Lord Luthavar Faelindion and Baralinhil – an OC borrowed from African Daisy and Kaylee - Thranduil’s somewhat older cousin and a Lord Elder on the Council of the Greenwood. Luthavar is the Elder for trade and commerce, he is a valued advisor to Thranduil’s parents. Luthavar is closer to Thranduil’s own age than most of his cousins, and often lends a sympathetic ear to Thranduil. They both take their duties seriously but nonetheless have a mischievous and insouciant side, common characteristics which helped them to swiftly become friends as well as cousins.

Master Healer Nestorion Nestaethion– an OC borrowed from African Daisy and Kaylee - the chief royal healer of the Greenwood. A personal friend to Oropher and his family, especially Thranduil. Nestorion is also a friend of Elrond’s. Nestorion is the adoptive father of Healer Galadaelin (Galad), and the adoptive son of Lady Nestaeth.

Elder Nestaeth - an OC borrowed from African Daisy and Kaylee – a Master Healer and the Elder of Healers on Greenwood’s Council of Elders. Nestaeth is the father of the chief royal healer, Master Healer Nestorion, and grandmother to Nestorion’s adopted son, Healer Galad.

Master Healer Netharon – a Falathrim Master Healer who was an old friend of Cirdan the Mariner, and a mentor to young Elrond during the War of Wrath. In the Second Age, Netharon willingly sacrifices his life to help Celebrimbor give life to Vilya. As he is a part of Vilya, he can 'speak' to Elrond in mindspeech while Elrond is wearing Vilya.

Nuhuinie - a priestess of Nienna in service to Maedhros Feanorion during the First Age. She assists in giving mind-magic lessons to Elros and Elrond during their clandestine meetings to exchange intelligence with the Sons of Feanor during the War of Wrath.

Captain Rhoven Talathdirion – an OC borrowed from African Daisy and Kaylee - the Captain of Oropher’s bodyguard company, and the paternal grandfather of Thranduli’s blood-brother Veassen (and also of Veassen’s older cousins, Captain Himlas and Angtheldir). Rhoven was from Doriath, and served Oropher during the War of Wrath. He told Veassen stories about Beleriand during the End of the First Age, including that many of the waterways were poisoned by Morgoth by then.

Rochendil and Rochirion – OCs borrowed from African Daisy and Kaylee – they are warrior twins who once served in Doriath’s Army. Then they served Oropher on the Isle of Balar at the end of the First Age, where they helped to train Elrond and Elros in how to manage their twin bond in the thick of combat. After Oropher became King of the Greenwood, Rochendil became the General of Greenwood’s Army, and Rochirion became the Master of the Horse at the palace in Amon Lanc. Both Rochendil and Rochirion have mentored Thranduil and his friends.

Lady and Master Smith Taminixie Tamionhil– also spelled Taminixe – wife of Elrond’s oath-brother Erestor. A master weapon-smith and jewelsmith, who has made several of Elrond’s rings. Like Caradhon, Elrond has been friends with Taminixie since his earliest childhood in the Havens of Sirion. She and Elros were apprentice smiths together. In Imladris, Taminixie also serves as one of Celebrian’s ladies-in-waiting. When Celebrian isn’t present, Taminixie serves as chatelaine of Imladris. As Erestor’s wife, Taminixie is Arandil and Elain’s daughter-by-law, and Glorfindel’s granddaughter-by-law.

Sergeant Teliemir - one of the senior officers in Thranduil’s army company. Grandson of Boronthor, who is the captain of Thranduil’s personal guard.

Veassen - an OC borrowed from African Daisy and Kaylee - Veassen is a young soldier in Greenwood's army. He is a friend, blood-brother, and comrade-in-arms to Thranduil. Veassen is the most tender-hearted of their little group of friends and blood-brothers. Veassen has chestnut hair and warm brown eyes. He is a little taller (and also a little older) than Thranduil. He is the grandson of Rhoven, who is the captain of Oropher’s personal guard. His older cousins include Captain Himlas and Angtheldir.

Chapter Text

Overview:

Lady Lirulin is one of Celebrian’s ladies-in-waiting during the late Second Age and Third Age. She is also a member of Imladris’ council, and formerly a Lady of Eregion loyal to Celebrimbor. Earlier the was the leader/spokesperson of the non-kinslayer former Feanorian retainers on the Isle of Balar during the War of Wrath. Lirulin was originally Sindarin but lived by Mithrim when she and her family were captured by Morgoth’s servants and taken to Angband. There she and her father and brothers were released from their cell by fellow captive Maedhros Feanorion. After her rescue and Maedhros’ later rescue, she went to work for Maedhros.
Her name means wood lark.

Appearance/sensory details:

Lirulin has amber blond hair and ice blue eyes. After her escape from Angband in the early First Age (years of the Sun), Lirulin's ice blue eyes have a fierce, unearthly blue glow to them, like the blue of the underside of an iceberg in the far northern sea.

The blue of Lirulin's eyes when she is in a temper or highly determined and focused unnerves some of the Exile Noldor in Fingolfin's host, because it reminds them of the grinding ice (Helcaraxe).

Lirulin is tall and muscular. She is well-trained in self-defense, but does not consider herself a warrior. She has a faint scar from a balrog whip that curls around the left side of her face, and another smaller scar just below her right cheek bone.

Family:

Lirulin's mother was Avariel, her father was Melindo. Her three older brothers were Rithorion, Laboron (Hopper), and Berior (protector). Her grandmother was a priestess and a mind-mage. Lirulin inherited some of her gifts in that regard and was given some training. Although she was content to live with her family in their cabin in the woods outside Lake Mithrim.

Lirulin's mother was killed early in their captivity at the mines of Angband. Her father Melindo and her oldest older brothers were separated from them during their escape, they left to free others and died after doing so. Rithorion and Laboron were killed by pursuers during their escape from Angband. Berior and Lirulin were rescued by a patrol of Caranthir Feanorion. The patrol went on to rescue more of the forty plus captive elvish mining slaves released by Lirulin's father Melindo (after Maedhros released him, his daughter, and his three sons). These rescued slaves included an Avari elf named Rog. Rog later married one of Princess Idril's ladies in waiting and became a friend to Turgon. Turgon made him Lord of the House of the Hammer of Wrath, and he was one of the greatest warriors of his adopted people, the Noldor.

Background:

Lirulin was born in Doriath, her family moved from there north to around Lake Mithrim during the peaceful parts of the Years of the Trees. She and her family were captured by Morgoth’s servants not long after the exiled Noldor arrived. She and her parents and two brothers were wood-cutters and foresters, harvesting the herbs and goods of the forest to bring to the settlements along Lake Mithrim to sell. Lirulin was later ennobled by Celebrimbor, in Eregion.

Lirulin's mother Avariel was captured by orcs at their cabin. They threatened to kill her unless Lirulin and her two next oldest brothers came to her aid. Their father and eldest brother were captured on their way back home. Avariel was killed early in their captivity, but Melindo and his four children stayed together and helped each other. Their cohesion brought the attention of higher-ranking servants of Morgoth, who pulled them aside for special attention. The timing of this was unfortunate, because they had just made a tunnel and figured out a possible escape route with some of their fellow slaves.

Lirulin, her father, and her brothers were put into a cell near those prisoners of special interest to Sauron. At the time, it was just them, Maedhros, and a male slave who had refused to become a turncoat. They were forced to watch while Maedhros and the male slave were cruelly tortured. The other male slave was killed, Maedhros already had a broken leg. Lirulin and her family were told that Lirulin would have to sleep with her brothers and father, or else her father and then her brothers would be tortured to death, each in turn. They knew that this was part of how orcs were created. All five family members were separately chained to the wall, so that none of them could aid each other (or offer one another a merciful death).

Maedhros, by that point, did not think that it was possible for him to escape himself, he was always too closely guarded if he was capable of running. But he held some hope out that he might help someone else escape, or in whatever other ways he could substantively undermine his captors. Maedhros overheard one of Lirulin's brothers lamenting why this had to happen just when they'd figured out an escape route. After Sauron left for the night to oversee the birth of his favorite were wolf's new litter, Maedhros called the guard over pretending to be wounded, then killed him with a knife he'd hidden after his captors had given it to him earlier to fight new monsters for their amusement. Maedhros knew from past experience that cutting Sauron with a normal weapon caused no damage to him, nor did fighting him hand-to-hand (unless it amused the incarnate Maia to allow it), but he'd kept the knife in case it might be useful later. When he was newly captured, they had given him weapons and offered him the choice between mercy-killing other slaves or watching them be tortured. But they'd long ago tired of that, so Maedhros knew it might be some time before he was able to gain access to another weapon.

Maedhros dragged himself down the hall to the cell where Lirulin and her father and brothers were imprisoned. He freed them and gave them his knife. He also gave them the names of the traitors Morgoth had gloatingly told him about in the Feanorion host, and amongst the grey elves of Mithrim (the Sindar who lived near Lake Mithrim). Maedhros did not give them the names of the traitors Morgoth had named amongst those who followed Fingolfin and Finarfin, since as far as he knew, they were still in Aman (Maedhros had thought that Fingolfin and his host would have turned back and begged pardon). Maedhros almost gave Lirulin a warning to pass on to his brothers that Morgoth may have been lying about some of the names of the Feanorion and Sindarin/wood elf traitors, but that he thought at least some of them were truly in Morgoth's service. But in the end he just gave her the names he was relatively sure of

After being released from their chains and cell, Melindo and Lirulin's eldest brothers [above] went in the direction of the main cells where the slaves who worked in the mines were kept. Lirulin and her next oldest brother went for the exit that they all thought would be their best chance to get a head start.

Lirulin and Berior made it safely to a patrol led by Caranthir Feanorion.

Melindo and Rithorion freed all of the slaves in the first cell they came to, then fled with them. These escaping thralls included Rog, later a lord of Gondolin. Melindo was going to continue on to free others, but he was warned by the other slaves that there were traitor thralls amongst those further in the cells. Melindo and Rithorion and most of the escapees died, shot down by orcs or slain by wargs during their way out of Angband and toward Mithrim. In the end, Rithorion and four other ellyn, two recent captures in relatively good physical shape (Senion, Noldorin, and Halor, Doriathrin Sindarin from Mithrim like Lirulin) and two wood elves of exceptional spirit (Donnor and Rog) who managed to keep up with them were rescued by the same Feanorian patrol, Rithorion died of his injuries before they were able to return.

Immediately after their escape from Angband, Lirulin and her surviving brother Berior (who was injured in their escape but rescued and treated in time) joined the Feanorian host. Lirulin's face was marked by a balrog's whip in the mines, and by one of Sauron's lieutenants in preparation for being further tortured. Because the marks are clearly those of Angband, Liruliln and Berior knew that they might receive a cold reception if they went home to their own peoples' settlements around Mithrim. Also, they are grateful to Maedhros and Caranthir and Maglor for rescuing them and keeping them safe. For further details of this time, see "Somebody else's Rescue", link in end notes.

Morgoth and Sauron were surprised and angered by Maedhros' actions in helping Lirulin and her family to escape. They had thought Maedhros as broken in spirit as he had been careful to seem. They did not understand why he would do such a strange - to them - thing as to aid other thralls when doing so could earn him nothing but further punishment.

Lirulin and Berior drew a map for Fingon of the lands around Angband. It helped him to navigate his way to Maedhros.

After Maedhros’ own rescue by Fingon, Lirulin served Maedhros in Mithrim and then Himring. They became friends, as well as valued retainer and lord. Lirulin became friends with Fingon through Maedhros. Lirulin later became Maedhros’ chatelaine at Himring.

At the Feast of Reuniting, Lirulin served as a scribe for Maedhros during a meeting between him, Fingon, Cirdan, and Finarfin's children. There it was decided that the reparations paid by the Kinslayers amongst the Feanorian Host and the Fingolfinian Host to the people of the Falas on behalf of the Lindar of Alqualonde would be used to build a large city and several towns on the Isle of Balar. Finrod and Galadriel had both Foreseen that the War against Morgoth might go so poorly that the free peoples of Beleriand would need a fortress of last resort. Maedhros' Seeress, Nuhuinie, had Seen similar visions.

Lirulin was one of the non-combatants whom Maedhros sent to his brother Caranthir’s fortress of Amon Ereb before the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, after which she and the others were evacuated to the Isle of Balar. She represented the Feanorians on the Isle of Balar until the Kinslaying at Doriath, after which the Isle of Balar Feanorian population renounced their service to the Feanorian lords (at Maedhros’ own urging), and swore loyalty to young Ereinion Gil-galad (and to his regent, Galadriel Finarfiniel). After each of the later Kinslayings, Maedhros sent reparations to the Isle of Balar, for Lirulin to distribute to the refugees of the peoples he had harmed.

Second Age:

After the War of Wrath, Lirulin swore herself in service to young Lord Elrond Peredhel, Maedhros’ and Maglor’s foster-son. Gil-galad released Lirulin and the other non-Kinslaying former Feanorian retainers to do this. Lirulin remained sworn to Gil-galad, through Elrond, who was Gil-galad’s heir and one of his most important vassal lords.

When Celebrimbor left Lindon to join Galadriel and Celeborn in founding Eregion, Lirulin accompanied him (with Elrond’s freely given permission).

In Eregion, Lirulin became close to Celebrimbor. She respected him for his faith in redemption, and for how he welcomed everyone to Eregion who came in peace. She was frightened of Annatar from the start, but stayed in Eregion until Celebrimbor begged her to leave because he wanted her to be safe. Lirulin helped Elain keep Annatar in their sight the entire time that Arandil had been kidnapped by Annatar's followers, so that Annatar couldn't get loose and go and take charge of Arandil's interrogation himself.

Celebrimbor sent Lirulin away from Eregion before the end, not wanting her to ever again risk being at the mercy of her old tormentor Sauron. She came to live in Lothlorien. There she represented the Eregion exiles who lived in Lothlorien, served her friend Galadriel as a lady in waiting, and became a surrogate mother to Amdir's son Amroth, whose mother had been killed by orcs not long before the fall of Eregion.

Third Age:

After Celebrian's rescue from the orcs, Lirulin accompanied her and Arandil and Elain as they sailed for the West to seek healing for Celebrian. Lirulin remained at Celebrian's side in Valinor until Celebrian was well again. After that, she became Fingon Fingolfinwion's companion and housekeeper. They both loved Maedhros while hating the crimes he'd committed at the end of the First Age. They both missed him, and they found that it was easier and less painful to miss him together.

Fourth Age:

After Maedhros was Reborn, Lirulin became his companion and housekeeper while he did community service for the people of Alqualonde and the Doriathrin and Sirion legacy kingdoms on Tol Eressea. Fingon was most often with them, when he could spare time from his duties.

Chapter Text

A short summary:

The first reason being, of course, the Oath that he and his brothers had sworn, and to save his father and his brothers from the Void. While everyone knew that the spirits of the elves slain by the Sons of Feanor and their followers would go safely to the Halls of Mandos to be reborn in due time, no one really knew what would happen to the spirits of Feanor and his sons after they died. Maedhros had been particularly worried about his family ending up in the Void, because Morgoth had tormented him by telling him of the cruel monsters in the Void who had tortured Morgoth during his own tenure there. On balance, Maedhros thought that Morgoth had probably been lying about that. But he hadn’t been sure, and he hadn’t wanted to take the chance.

The second reason was that the Second and Third Kinslayings were, essentially, a form of kingdom-wide mercy killings. Maedhros waited to give the order to march on Doriath (and then Sirion) until after he had proof positive from his spies that Morgoth’s armies were mustering to do the same.

The third reason had to do with preventing Morgoth from regaining the third Silmaril. Even as merely a superior vehicle for storing magic for later use, it would increase his power. If Morgoth realized that some of the information that Sauron had tortured out of Maedhros during his time in Angband had been true, then he might know that the Silmarils were intended to work by a wielder using them to heal or protect their loved ones. Since Morgoth doesn’t love, in the ordinary way of speaking, they wouldn’t work for him. But he could force an elf or a Man to use the jewels for him, at his order, by holding hostage their loved ones. Maedhros’ Seeress had foreseen Morgoth using Dior and then Elwing in this way. That had given Morgoth, in her visions, enough power to overcome Middle Earth and then go on to conquer all of the other Valar in Aman.

Another additional reason for Maedhros leading the Second and Third Kinslayings was that he was afraid he would lose control of those of his brothers who were more eager to fulfill the oath, and he thought that the Kinslayings would be more mercifully done if he led them himself. Maedhros was grief and guilt stricken in the wake of the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, to the extent that he really wasn't himself all of the time.

Maedhros’ other reason for the last Kinslaying, when he led Maglor to steal the Silmarils from the Host of the Valar, was that his Seeress had Foreseen a future wherein Sauron – who had escaped capture – reacquired the Silmaril and used a captive to wield it against the free peoples of Middle Earth. Armies of whom were led by Elrond and a descendant of Elros (whom Maedhros and his Seeress Nuhuinie mistook for Elros).

Excerpt from "A Lesson from A Witch of the Avari" (link below):

It was Maedhros who had informed [the twins of his other reasons for the later Kinslayings], only after 1) Elrond had half-guessed [them], 2) Olorin had confirmed the twins’ ability to hide their thoughts from even a Maia’s probing, and 3) Maedhros’ Seeress Nuhuinie had Foreseen that it might be Elrond and Elros (with a beard!) who would one day be the ones to lead their peoples in a future war against Sauron (such that they would therefore need to know everything that he was capable of).

Everyone knew Maedhros’ first reason for the Kinslayings at Doriath and Sirion. Because of the Oath that he and his brothers had sworn, and to save his father and his brothers from the Void. While everyone knew that the spirits of the elves slain by the Sons of Feanor and their followers would go safely to the Halls of Mandos to be reborn in due time, no one really knew what had happened to the spirits of Feanor and his sons after they died. If Eonwe did know, he had been unwilling to tell Maedhros. Not even when Maedhros had begged. That, the twins had learned from eavesdropping. Elrond would learn much later in the 4th Age that Maedhros had been particularly worried about his family ending up in the Void, because Morgoth had tormented him by telling him of the cruel monsters in the Void who had tortured Morgoth during his own tenure there. On balance, Maedhros thought that Morgoth had probably been lying about that. But he hadn’t been sure, and he hadn’t wanted to take the chance.

Eonwe had also been unwilling to tell the twins about the fate of Feanor and his deceased sons, when Elrond had asked. Eonwe had said that the wrongdoing of the Sons of Feanor was not the twins’ affair. Which wasn’t really true, as Elros had argued, since the twins were kin and foster-kin to Maedhros and Maglor. But Eonwe had been unmoved, by that. The other Maiar had all been unwilling to gainsay the decision of their commander (despite some of them being more sympathetic to the twins’ arguments than Eonwe had been). Not that Eonwe was a bad sort, but he saw things very much in black and white. The Sons of Feanor were mass murderers, and deserved justice, not mercy. The twins didn’t think that he was wrong about the justice part, but they felt that the Valar, as a whole, could learn from the way in which criminal justice, as practiced by the Free Peoples of Middle Earth, had redemptive as well as punitive components. After all, how was a criminal ever supposed to improve themselves and make up for what they’d done, if the Valar ‘doomed to evil end’ everything that they tried so hard to do right?

Maedhros’ second reason for the Kinslayings was no secret. Although he himself would never offer it as a justification for what he’d done, it was nonetheless widely known that he had not given the order for his army to march to Doriath (and later Sirion) until after his spies and scouts had found proof positive that Morgoth’s servants were mustering in force themselves. Furthermore, Maedhros had also waited for there to be proof that they were headed in the direction of Doriath (and later Sirion). Given that Maedhros felt that a clean death by the blade was a kindness when compared to being taken captive by the forces of Angband, the twins understood that he’d viewed the latter two Kinslayings as a form of kingdom-wide mercy slayings. He was wrong, of course, in that there was no such thing as a kingdom-wide mercy slaying. But that did seem to honestly have been part of what he’d been thinking. It was certainly part of what Maglor had been thinking, as he had told the twins. Others of the twins’ friends and associates amongst the Feanorian host had told them the same thing – that the Kinslayings had been meant as a kindness. It was somewhat infuriating, actually.

Anyway, Maedhros, alone, had been persuaded to give the order to march by a third reason. The Kinslayings had also been Maedhros’ attempt to remove the Silmaril from play before Nuhuinie’s visions of Sauron forcing Dior (and then Elwing) to use it to help him and his master unleash the true power of all three jewels to help them conquer all of Arda could come true. Since Dior’s (then Elwing’s) only option to giving in, in those visions, had been watching as their precious children were tortured and transformed into orcs, Dior (and then Elwing) had agreed to use their Silmaril to help the Enemy, in at least some of those possible futures.

It would have been bad enough if Morgoth had merely reacquired the third Silmaril, without knowing how to really use it. Even as merely a superior vessel for the storing of magic for later use, each Silmaril greatly enhanced Morgoth’s power. Used as Feanor had intended them, they could enable Morgoth to conquer not just Middle Earth, but all of the other Valar, in Aman.

In Nuhuinie’s visions, if Maedhros marched on Doriath, then none of those subsequent futures would contain Dior aiding Morgoth in conquering first the rest of Middle Earth, and then Aman. Then later, before the Kinslaying at Sirion, in a precious one of the futures seen by Nuhuinie as being possible only if the Sons of Feanor did take Sirion by the sword, a fortress of sails had come from the West to save Middle Earth from Morgoth.

Of course, that had ended up coming true because the twins’ mother Elwing had kept the Silmaril safe from BOTH Morgoth and the Sons of Feanor. As even Maedhros conceded, if he and Maglor had succeeded in getting the Silmaril from Elwing, there was every chance that Morgoth would have slain them and taken the Silmaril anyway. That was true, he allowed, even though Maedhros had been contemplating throwing what they now referred to as ‘the Sky Silmaril’ into the ocean. In hopes that the Oath only required ‘taking’ and not ‘keeping’ of the Silmarils, and that Ulmo would take pity on them and be able to help them if he was given a Silmaril.

Further on that point, Maedhros had certain fascinating theories about how the Valar had, perhaps, actually needed a Silmaril in order to come to the aid of the Free Peoples of Beleriand. Ideas he’d developed after discussions with his father. Theories that Elrond hoped were true, because it would mean that the Valar hadn’t condemned all of Middle Earth, including the Falathrim and Laiquendi and non-Doriath-dwelling Sindar, to death and torture merely because Feanor and the Noldor had defied them. The Maiar that the twins knew well enough to ask had been unwilling to comment on the matter.

“A Lesson from a Witch of the Avari” is available here: https://archiveofourown.to/works/54814042

Chapter Text

I begin this with an excerpt from “Simply a Matter of Making Sensible Staffing Decisions,” hereinafter “Sensible Staffing,” to give an overview. It is a Maedhros POV story taking place after he is re-embodied in the Fourth Age. I will put the link in the End Notes after I have posted the first chapter of the story. The excerpt is taken from a conversation with Elrond.

First, the excerpt from “Sensible Staffing”:

[Maedhros said] “I have also learned to trust in Eru Iluvatar. To trust that he loves his children so completely that he will act to prevent them from doing something so cruel to themselves as swearing themselves to the Void. At least, without far better reason than we gave him to see us imprisoned in such a way.” Feanor creating a summer home in the Void for himself and his sons, in a fit of spite towards Mandos and the other Valar, had been a different matter entirely. In that it had been Feanor’s own choice.

Maedhros was proud that his father had used his ability to quit the Halls of Mandos at will and spend time in the Void for the greater good. Although whether Feanor had initially begun to warn Earendil through the Silmaril of impending incursions by Void monsters for the good of all beings in Valinor and Middle Earth, Maedhros himself was unsure. Maglor and Ambarussa thought so. But they, like Elrond, were prone to seeing the best in everyone. This often worked out for them. After all, those who expected the best from those around them were more likely to receive it. For this reason, Maedhros himself tried to at least appear to err on the side of optimism on this point, including when interacting with his father.

Maedhros was unsure whether Caranthir, Celegorm and Curufin were in the right, when they maintained that Feanor had begun helping to protect Arda more because his estranged wife, his sons and his grandson were there, rather than because he cared about the good of beings he considered himself unrelated to. They had gone on to accuse Feanor – behind his back – of continuing in his protective role during the Second Age solely for the sake of Nerdanel, Celebrimbor, Elrond, Elros, and Elros’ descendants.

On that point, Maedhros had weighed in on the side of Maglor and Ambarussa. He had done this not only because he felt Feanor would make their sometimes-home in the Void unbearable if he happened to overhear his more cynical sons impugning his actions in such a manner. But also because Maedhros believed that, even if Feanor hadn’t started out with higher motives, that he had been converted to having them, along the way. (Wdg)

As Elrond had once argued to Maedhros, some people found it hard to do good, and see the results of doing good, without feeling encouraged to do more good. Even when doing so merely for that future goodness’ own sake. Feanor was such a person, in Maedhros’ judgement. Unfortunately for Celebrimbor, Sauron had not, in the end, turned out to be such a being. Although both Galadriel and Elrond thought that he had been at least minimally tempted, in that regard. They, and Maedhros, still felt deep anger, over Sauron's torture -murder of Celebrimbor.

Maedhros forced himself to think of something else. Since what occurred to him first was something which he thought that Elrond would find reassuring, he went on to say, “As Eru loves my father and his sons like his own prodigal sons, despite everything, I must have faith that his love - and his ability to turn actions catalyzed by Morgoth’s marring into only greater wonder - is without limit."

That concludes the excerpt from “Sensible Staffing.”

Parts of the following are taken from my notes for an unfinished story, “Conversations about Creation and Morality,” which is about a representation of Eru meeting Feanor in the Void, where the two have a series of conversations.

Backing up in time to directly after the death of Feanor – first, he does hear and heed the call of Mandos after he dies. He heeds it because he wants to register his complaints regarding the Doom of Mandos and what he sees as the Valar abrogating their responsibility to capture Morgoth and defend the elves of Beleriand (as well as get Feanor’s greatest creations back).

Mandos kindly entertains Feanor’s speech, even though he could have just sent his spirit along to the Halls of waiting. Feanor points out that his Host arrived in Beleriand just in time to prevent various populations of shore and wood dwelling elves from being wiped out entirely by Morgoth’s armies.

Mandos explains that such a result would have been deeply regrettable, but that because Feanor and his Host began their crusade with bloodshed, not to mention against the will of the Valar, it was Doomed to failure in any case. No matter what victories they might have along the way.

Mandos does not explain again – if he or any of the other Valar even did so in the first place – that they dare not go themselves to Middle Earth to fight Morgoth. The contest between the great Powers would wreck the continent entirely, most likely killing all of the elves and other creatures resident upon it.

Feanor finds this Mandos' reasons unpersuasive.

Mandos also does not explain that, if the Valar had even one of the Silmarils back from Morgoth, such that Morgoth could no longer store his magic within them for later use, the Valar might dare send an army of Maiar and elves to fight Morgoth and try to save the free beings of Beleriand from him and his servants. From Mandos’ perspective, it probably isn’t relevant, since Feanor doesn’t even have possession of his Silmarils anymore.

Mandos then summons one of his Maiar to escort Feanor’s spirit to the Halls.

Feanor, who wants nothing more to do with the Valar, wants another option. He can feel a connection to some place that isn’t the Halls of Mandos. He draws upon that connection. He might have made a different decision if the Valar had been more forthcoming with information. Or if they had been willing to re-embody him so that he could continue his crusade. But, even if it weren’t for the Doom, the Valar have a responsibility to the Lindar of Alqualonde not to reembody Feanor anytime soon. At least not without him accepting responsibility for the deaths and harm he caused amongst the Lindar in the process of stealing their ships.

So, Feanor draws on the connection formed by his Oath between himself and the Void of Everlasting Darkness to transport himself there. At first, there is nothing, and it is dark. Then Feanor sees that there is material in the Void. He learns that he can use it to create a body for his spirit. It is not very much like a real body, in that he cannot feel physical sensations. But it encapsulates his spirit, so he can move around and create things.

In his explorations of the Everlasting Darkness, Feanor finds cruel monsters who try to harm him, and other monstrous creatures who don’t intend him harm. He makes allies with the latter. They permit him to join them in the ‘area’ of the Void where they dwell together, to have safety in numbers against the more malicious creatures of the Void. Feanor uses his creativity and skill to forge matter in the Void into devices which improve his life and the lives of his allies.

Some of Feanor’s new allies are Ainur who declined to be part of Ea at the moment Eru showed them the Vision of it. Some of them were frightened, others simply weren’t interested at the time. They are fascinated by Feanor’s descriptions of the world created by Eru, of Aman and Beleriand. Feanor, being Feanor, complains to them a lot about Morgoth. Also, sometimes about the other Valar, but particularly about Morgoth.

The creatures of the Void do recognize the description of Morgoth. He spent time imprisoned there, relatively recently as they reckon time. He was cruel to many of Feanor’s allies, who intended him no harm. He was powerful enough that the malicious monsters of the Void feared him. Some allied with him, for he would help them capture the more peaceful creatures of the Void. By tormenting lesser denizens of the Void, Morgoth and his newly converted monsters would derive amusement and create power. Morgoth hoped to gather enough power, in time, to break through the Doors of Night and conquer not just Middle Earth and Aman, but all of Ea.

The next series of paragraphs are a summary of the events of a draft story, “A Conversation about Creation and Morality.” The summary for this story is: In which Eru and Feanor meet in the Void, and are mutually fascinated by one another.

Or, in which the Valar wish that Feanor weren't so much . . . himself.

Meanwhile, this unusual activity in the Void occasioned by the arrival of Feanor has attracted the notice of Eru. He, who left freedom of choice on the part of his children to guide the shape of the great song or grand tapestry of his creation, had never expected that someone might swear to send themselves to the Everlasting Darkness if they failed to fulfill an oath. He never expected someone like Feanor, or the possibilities that Feanor sees in the Void. A failure of imagination on Eru’s part, perhaps, he thinks.

Eru is fascinated enough to create a body for himself, in order to go and speak with Feanor directly in the Void.

Feanor, while initially suspicious, is curious enough to speak with this stranger who claims to be a representation of Eru Iluvatar. Soon enough, through their discussion of creation – Eru’s creation of the Music and Ea and Feanor’s various inventions and creations – Feanor realizes that Eru is indeed who he claims to be.

At which point Feanor, being Feanor, has some complaints to present. Eru listens patiently. He, being all knowing, has more patience for Feanor than his Valar and Maiar. He knows what tragedies the influences set in motion by Morgoth’s Marring have had on Feanor, and on Miriel. The secret ones, that afflicted Miriel and then Feanor, which Feanor has never been willing to share with anyone. [See my story “Not a Single Hair, links below”]

Eru also knows that Feanor created the Silmarils to heal Marring, to heal the damage within himself and within his children as a result of those early influences. His Silmarils were meant to be used to heal and to protect those who are beloved, when wielded by someone who loves them. Unfortunately, before Feanor figured out how best to harness his Silmarils and actually tried to heal his and his children’s Marring, he had to show them off. At which point, [Varda] hallowed the Silmarils. After that, Feanor was afraid to use them for the purpose he’d intended, for fear that, being Marred, the Silmarils would harm himself and/or his children. Feanor did not understand that, to be harmed by the hallowing, a wielder/possessor would have to have committed great, willing acts of evil.

Eru points this out to Feanor. Eru subsequently agrees that the Valar could have done a better job explaining how hallowing works and doesn’t work. He also agrees that it was a mistake for the Valar to free Morgoth in the first place and then to forbid the Noldor from going back to Beleriand to pursue Morgoth. He further agrees that, by leaving Morgoth and his servants free on Middle Earth, the Valar essentially failed the elves of Middle Earth. He draws the distinction that the Doom of Mandos wasn’t a mistake, because it was a prophecy based on Foresight. But he agrees that it was harsh, and that the Valar could have done a better job of explaining it.

Then he reminds Feanor that the Valar aren’t perfect or all knowing. He points out that, had Feanor told the Valar all of why he believed that he and his children were Marred, they could have helped them to heal. At that point, Eru held himself back from making certain additional points and arguments, because doing so would have come too close to abrogating Feanor’s free will.

If not for that, Eru would have liked to have explained to Feanor that, had Feanor been more forthcoming with the Valar, the Valar could also have stopped many other elves from being abused by other elves who, like Feanor’s maternal grandfather, had been corrupted by Morgoth and his servants before the Great Journey. That would have protected generations of elven children to come.

Because pointing out the ways that the Marring of the world has affected Feanor and inspired him to act in ways that have caused further Marring and pain to others comes too close to influencing Feanor’s free will, Eru refrains. He also does not explain to Feanor, beyond the Doom of Mandos, how Feanor’s actions could reverberate on into the future to cause greater harm and Marring. Including and especially to Feanor's own children.

Eru doesn’t feel that it limits Feanor’s free will to point out that, by killing Lindarin sailors who were merely protecting their ships, Feanor deprived others of their parents and children. Feanor, who was so affected by his mother’s fading and refusal to be re-embodied, does feel a bit badly about this. But he isn’t willing to apologize to the Valar over it, either. He isn’t necessarily opposed to apologizing to individual Lindar killed at his orders to facilitate his theft of their ships.

Eru suggests that Feanor should perhaps not do that until he is ready to offer a better apology than ‘I’m sorry but my killing you was justified by my crusade to avenge my father and take back my Silmarils.’ He also points out that the Valar might have been more sympathetic to Feanor’s desire to reacquire his gems if he’d disclosed that he’d used the blood, bone, and spirit of himself and his family members to create the Silmarils in the first place. If Feanor had shared that he feared destroying them might harm or even kill himself and his family, the Valar certainly would have been more sympathetic to why Feanor didn’t want to donate them to help bring back tree light. They also might have been more sympathetic to his concern that Morgoth’s retention of the Silmarils, or the possession of the Silmarils by anyone who wasn’t Feanor or his family, would have a negative impact on his family’s health and wellbeing.

Eru does share with Feanor that the possession of the Silmarils by others, even Morgoth, is only burdensome and not actively harmful to Feanor and his family. And that, in time, he and his family would rejuvenate from their donation of blood, bone and spirit to the Silmarils. Such that, in time, destroying them would not kill or cripple any of them. Although they likely would always experience some pain, from it.

Since Feanor doesn’t think much of the mercy of the Valar, he doesn’t know as him sharing that knowledge about the Silmarils with them would have been helpful. Although he does concede that receiving an ‘I’m sorry but I was justified’ apology from someone else would not be very helpful to him.

Eru points out that, should Feanor feel able to give a better apology in the future, he can always return to the Halls of Mandos and ask to do so. Then he asks why Feanor was unwilling to accept the mercy of the halls of Mandos, in the first place.

Feanor says that he thinks that should be obvious, given their discussion of the Valar’s many faults.

Eru chooses to be amused rather than irritated by Feanor’s presumption and his failure to see other points of view. He tells Feanor that, while he is disappointed by some of Feanor's choices and their results, he is delighted by the prospect of finding out what good things Feanor may be able to accomplish in the future, despite being dead and in the Void. He adds that, should Feanor wish to know what is going on in Arda, including in the lives of his children, he may return to the Halls of Mandos and ask to to see Vaire's tapestries there. He may also ask to receive healing or counseling in understanding how his actions have affected others and in making atonement for the ways in which he has harmed others. Eru himself will direct Manwe that Feanor should be permitted to do these things.

Feanor thanks Eru for that. Although he does not think he is curious enough to ask for anything from the Valar. In terms of information about current events, Feanor can tell for himself that his Silmarils are still in Morgoth’s possession. That much, Feanor realizes that he knows, although he is not exactly sure how. He assumes it is through his connection to the Silmarils. Not only did he create them, but he did so with his own blood, bone and spirit. Feanor begins to perceive that his Silmarils will always be a part of him, no matter where they are.

Eru bids Feanor farewell.

Feanor asks if they might speak again, some time. He’s never met someone who sees all existence on such a grand scale as Eru.

Eru laughs and agrees. He is curious to see what Feanor will do in the future, anyway.

Then Eru goes and informs Manwe of where Feanor is, and that Eru wishes Feanor to always be admitted to the Halls of Mandos, whenever he wishes. He directs that Feanor should be permitted to avail himself of healing from those Maiar who serve Este as well as Namo. The ones who work with unhoused spirits, to help them understand their mistakes and repent of them, and to help them heal of harms they’ve suffered in their lives and deaths.

Manwe agrees, and makes it so. Although he – and the other Valar – aren’t thrilled. They find it galling that Eru has taken the time to speak directly with Feanor. Someone who has caused them a great deal of trouble, mostly for reasons they don’t understand.

Still, the Valar love Feanor, as they love all the children of Eru. Namo, and the other Valar and their Maiar, had been somewhat concerned when Feanor disappeared. They are glad to know that he is mostly safe. Although they do still worry about him.

They are right to do so. Living in the Everlasting Darkness with Void monsters who can destroy an elf’s spirit so completely that there is nothing left of him anywhere is dangerous.

Eru would have liked to have explained this to Feanor. But he knows, from observation, that Feanor has suffered enough damage from the malicious Void monsters to know that they can harm him, and that the Void is not safe. That Feanor decides to stay there anyway means that he is exercising his free will to do something that he found himself capable of doing (transporting himself to the Void from the Halls of Mandos). Eru feels that it is best that he not interfere. Although he may decide otherwise, if it looks like Feanor is in real trouble.

Eru did have to explain most of the above to Manwe. Despite Manwe’s utter frustration with Feanor, he was concerned enough about Feanor’s safety to ask why Eru didn’t just bring Feanor safely back to the Halls of Mandos and stop him from returning to the Void. The result was Eru giving Manwe his gentle lecture about ‘the importance of free will’ again.

In this case, Eru points out not only the importance of free will, but also that Feanor traveling back and forth from the Void to the Halls of Mandos is an instance of, ‘if Eru’s children can figure out how to do something, and it harms no one - or only harms themselves - then they should be allowed to do it.’ The subtext included more than a hint of, ‘and maybe it was a bad idea for you to have forbidden the Noldor from returning to Beleriand in the first place.’

Manwe wasn’t thrilled by getting this ‘importance of free will’ lecture again, either.

Feanor stays in the Void until he ‘feels’ one of his Silmarils being ‘rescued’ from Morgoth by someone who is not one of his sons, but who is a person whom that Silmaril likes rather than abhors (as it does Morgoth). At that point Feanor returns to the Halls of Mandos, to demand to see Vaire’s tapestries showing current events, as his Creator mentioned that he might. Feanor does not need help to do this. His Spirit always feels a connection to the Everlasting Darkness due his Oath, but his spirit likewise always feels a connection to the Halls of Mandos, because that is where he went when he heard Namo’s call and that is where his spirit is supposed to be according to the laws of the world.

Namo and his Maiar accede to Feanor’s request, although they point out that he needn’t be so rude about it.

This is when Feanor learns of everything that happened in the First Age after he died, up until Luthien and Beren stole a Silmaril from Morgoth.

Feanor is furious by Morgoth’s torment of his oldest son. He feels extremely grateful to Fingon for his rescue of Maedhros. But he is frustrated because that means, for the first time, that he has to be truly grateful for his father’s second marriage and his brother Fingolfin’s existence. Feanor is unhappy about Maedhros having handed over the kingship to Fingolfin. But, compared to the horrors his son went through in Angband, it doesn’t make a big impression on him. Also, he is proud of Maedhros, for his having averted a civil war for all of the Noldor by relinquishing the crown. Feanor complains about Maedhros’ torment to the Maia escorting him in the Halls of Mandos. He wanted to speak directly to Namo himself, to register his complaints. The Maia politely explained that such an audience would not be permissible at the moment. Feanor may be able to go back and forth between Mandos’ Halls and the Void at his election, but he cannot successfully demand command performances by a Vala.

Feanor grudgingly accepts this.

Feanor is proud of his sons for continuing the struggle against Morgoth. Since he can see that Morgoth is far more formidable than he thought, he is not angry with them for thus far failing to fulfill the Oath. He is upset that Luthien and Beren (and then Elu) do not return the Silmaril they took from Morgoth to his sons. But he is less upset than he otherwise would be, because the Silmaril itself is much happier in hands that are not Morgoth’s. Although it doesn’t feel particularly comfortable with Elu, either.

Feanor is not angry with Curufin and Celegorm for speaking against Finrod’s people following him on the Quest for the Silmaril, since it seemed logical to him given all the information available that Finrod would just have been leading his people to slaughter, in order to put the Silmaril in hands that wouldn’t be those of his sons. It also occurs to Feanor for the first time that his sons may end up actually having to oppose someone who isn’t Morgoth or even another Vala, but rather another elf, in order to fulfill the Oath.

On the one hand, Feanor still feels that he was right to word the Oath as he did. In part because he does not like to admit to being wrong, and in part because he isn’t sure that his family will be safe with the Silmarils in anyone’s hands other than their own, because the Silmarils were made with their own blood, bone and spirit. On the other hand, he is somewhat aware of the toll that the Kinslaying at Alqualonde took on his more sensitive sons, and therefore concerned about what the Oath may drive them to in the future. Unfortunately, he is not yet empathetic enough to care about the other people whom his sons may hurt in the future to fulfill the Oath.

Feanor is disappointed and even angry with Curufin and Celegorm for their actions in Nargothrond vis a vis Luthien, and their later attack on Beren and Luthien. He feels that he brought them up to treat females better than that. He realizes that they felt that the Oath justified their behavior, and he begins to consider regretting the Oath, in that respect.

Since Feanor can admit that he was wrong about burning the ships at Losgar, now that Fingon has rescued Maedhros and Fingolfin’s people did so much to help with holding the Siege of Angband, he asks to speak to his brother’s spirit, to apologize. Feanor is proud, but when he realizes that he has been unambiguously in the wrong, that pride demands that he admit to such mistakes, and offer atonement for them.

The Maiar, pleased by this evidence that Feanor is willing to repent for anything at all, check with Fingolfin to see if his spirit is in a state such that receiving an apology from someone as volatile as his half-brother will be helpful to him. When they ascertain that it is, they escort Feanor to Fingolfin.

Fingolfin, understandably, opens their interview by trying to punch Feanor. Since this is not possible in the Halls of Mandos, he is disappointed. But Feanor understands the urge and isn’t offended. He apologizes. Fingolfin says that he will accept Feanor’s apology, but only after Feanor has first apologized to all of his people who died or suffered on the Grinding Ice. Feanor agrees to do so. But he explains that he can only talk to one or two spirits at a time, because ‘people are annoying.’

‘Only you, Brother,’ replies Fingolfin.

Feanor also compliments his brother on his bravery and skill in fighting Morgoth, but criticizes him for having left ‘the children’ alone to continue the struggle against Morgoth on their own.

Fingolfin does not know what to say in reply to this, and says so.

Feanor graciously offers to visit again later, so that Fingolfin can have some time to think about it.

Fingolfin agrees that this plan is acceptable to him.

After that conversation with Fingolfin, Feanor is back and forth between the Halls of Mandos and the Void regularly. To keep track of current events on the tapestries, and to apologize to a few more of Fingolfin’s followers at regular intervals. Sometimes he, Fingolfin, and Finwe watch the scrolls together. They are all proud of Maedhros and Fingon and their siblings, for taking the fight to Morgoth with the League of Maedhros. They are all devastated by the events of the Battle of Unnumbered Tears.

Feanor is in the Halls of Mandos when his sons attack Doriath. He takes Celegorm, Curufin, and Caranthir back with him to the Void, after they follow the Call of Mandos to the Halls. Feanor teaches them how to live in the Void, and introduces them to his allies. In time, Curufin becomes at least as skilled as Feanor at forging Void matter into useful tools and weapons.

Feanor himself continues going back and forth between the Everlasting Darkness and the Halls.

The next time Feanor is in the Halls, Fingon asks to see him. When Feanor agrees, Fingon yells at him over the Oath, because of what it compelled his sons – especially Maedhros – to do in Doriath.

Fingon is angry at Maedhros, too. But he knows that Maedhros would never have done such a thing, if he weren’t afraid for his father’s and brothers’ spirits (that they would end up suffering in the Everlasting Darkness for all the Ages of the world). Fingon also knows that Morgoth had given Maedhros extra reasons to fear the dangers of the Everlasting Darkness (see the chapter of this story on Maedhros’ Additional Reasons for the Later Kinslayings).

Feanor, seeing the impact of the Second Kinslaying on his sons – especially Maedhros and Maglor – unambiguously regrets the Oath for the first time. Although he isn’t ready to admit that to anyone, yet.

Celegorm and Curufin wish to remain in the Void, but Caranthir feels some regret over his actions at Alqualonde and Doriath. He joins Feanor in going back and forth between the Void and the Halls. He even speaks to the Maiar of Mandos about his guilt, and then begins to apologize to his victims. The mere fact that the Everlasting Darkness is not a terrible place and that the Oath didn’t doom them to it even if it was, makes Caranthir feel more regret.

Caranthir is in the Halls watching the tapestries when his brothers attack the Havens of Sirion. He takes Ambarussa to the Void. They tell their father and brothers how their eldest brothers had been learning how to ‘see’ glimpses of Sirion through Elwing’s Silmaril. Feanor and Caranthir watch as Maedhros and Maglor raise Elwing’s twins for several years before sending them to the Isle of Balar for greater safety. They also witness them learn how to see through Morgoth’s Silmarils. This helps the eldest sons of Feanor better predict when Morgoth will harass their position in Amon Ereb.

Feanor sees Earendil and Elwing’s arrival in the West. He approves of the Valar finally deciding to go to the aid of the elves in Middle Earth (including his sons). Feanor then demands to see Mandos again. He explains that Earendil’s Silmaril would be more powerful as a star if he gave it his permission to serve Earendil. Mandos re-embodies Feanor solely for this purpose.

Feanor had honestly intended to do precisely as he had offered. But then he holds the Silmaril in his hands. Doing so, he can communicate with it so clearly that he realizes it is almost sentient. He doesn’t want to make it a slave to Earendil, so he explains the situation to the Silmaril, and he ‘gives’ the Silmaril to itself, to let it have free will. The Silmaril chooses for itself to aid Earendil in his mission of sailing the sky as a star to promise the free peoples of Middle Earth that they have not been forgotten or abandoned by the Valar. The Silmaril is, indeed, able to shine more brightly this way, as it is not torn by loyalty between its possessor/wielder and its creator and his family.

Feanor willingly returns to the Halls of Mandos. The Valar are exasperated with Feanor’s willfulness but pleased with the result. Eru Iluvatar himself is delighted. He hadn’t expected that any of his children would create children of their own in any but the ways he had designed. But he is proud of Feanor, of the Silmaril, and of Feanor again. Because Feanor had not only given up one of his most prized possessions, despite the risk to him and his family, he had also given his creation free will, instead of allowing anyone to possess it.

Feanor explained to Eru that he was worried about the Silmarils still with Morgoth. Eru shares his pain, but explains that if he were to intervene, that would give more power to Morgoth in an exceptional way, and that he couldn’t explain further than that. Feanor finds this frustrating, but he respects Eru as a ‘fellow creator’ so much that he allows he might have secrets of his own.

Eru does not share this with Feanor, but he begins to think that if the Silmarils continue to grow and evolve, they may become sentient enough for him to consider them ‘his children’ just as much as the dwarves or the elves or the Men. If that happens, he decides that he will recognize them as such. He is not angry with Feanor for having ‘created’ life in a way that he did not design to be possible. Feanor was trying to do something that Eru had forbidden. Feanor did not know it was possible for him to create sentient beings any more than anyone else did.

Meanwhile, there is a Void monster which has come close to breaking through the Gates of Night. Feanor speaks through the Silamril, to warn Earendil. Forewarned, Earendil is able to recruit extra warriors for his crew in advance of that night – including the reborn Finrod. They successfully fight off the Void monster.

Eru is proud of Feanor, for helping in this way. He visits again and tells Feanor that, despite the evil that he and his Oath have caused, Feanor taking the opportunity to help all of Eru’s other children by alerting Earendil to incursions by Void monsters is an example of what Eru meant when he said to Morgoth:

“And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien

Feanor is pleased to have thwarted Morgoth, even from the Void. He is also glad that his wife, children, grandson, and foster-grandchildren are safe from the Void monster. Feanor has begun to gain enough empathy that he is glad to have kept other people’s families safe from the Void monster, too. He will develop further along this line as time goes along.

Maedhros and Maglor, meanwhile, have figured out that the Silmaril of Sky no longer ‘pulls’ on their Oath as Earendil sails with it, even though they can still ‘see’ a bird’s eye view of Middle Earth from it. From this, they determine that laying hands upon the other Silmarils and then ‘giving’ them to an element may be enough to satisfy the Oath. So, this is what they do, after they steal the last two Silmarils. Maedhros, in guilt and anguish over all of the harm that he’s done, is so overwhelmed by anguish that he takes the first opportunity to ‘give’ his Silmaril to the fires of the earth. He does so even though it means a painful death for him, as well as leaving Maglor behind. For more information on the Silmarils after they have all been ‘given’ to the elements, read chapter 1 of my Second Age story, “Out of Time” (link available in the End Notes).

After Maedhros’ death, Feanor comes to get him in the Halls of Mandos. Maedhros is struggling greatly with grief and guilt. But, because the Valar exiled Morgoth to the Void at the end of the First Age, Maedhros needs to put his trauma aside, in order to help his father and brothers to ‘Morgoth-proof’ their area of the Void. This is necessary for the safety of Feanor and his family, and also for the safety of the Void creatures who are their allies, who have worked together with Feanor to ‘fortify’ their section of the Void.

Maedhros also spends time helping devise the safest ways for his family and their allies to spy on Morgoth and his allies. This is necessary to keep themselves safe, and also so that Feanor can continue to warn Earendil when a monster may be about to break through a barrier of the Void (either to attack Middle Earth or to try to take the Silmaril from Earendil). Now that Morgoth is in the Void, the monsters he aids in their penetration into the world have the goal of bringing the Silmaril back for Morgoth. With the power of the Silmaril as a reservoir of magic, Morgoth could break open the Doors of Night and come back to menace the world again.

After the situation with Morgoth in the Void is stabilized, Feanor encourages Maedhros to go to Mandos, to be counseled through his guilt and grief by the Maiar there. Maedhros is even more depressed than Caranthir or the twins by the guilt of what he did under influence of Oath, especially knowing that the Void isn’t the horrible place that Morgoth had warned him about. Or, rather, that it’s more than just a horrible place.

As Maedhros works through his guilt and grief with the Maiar of Mandos, they in time deem him healed enough to begin apologizing to the spirits of those he’s harmed who would benefit from an apology. Even before Maedhros was healed enough to begin making amends, the Maiar would bring the spirits of his loved ones who had forgiven him enough to want to help him (such as Fingon) to visit with Maedhros’ spirit.

Once Maedhros is feeling better and making good progress in repenting and atoning (to the extent one can within the Halls of Mandos), he encourages Fingon to accept Mandos’ offer to re-embody him. Fingon waits until Namo promises him that he and the other Valar are willing to allow the sons of Feanor to be re-embodied themselves someday, if they heal and atone enough to do so (albeit someday far in the future). Fingon also extracts a promise from Maedhros, that Maedhros will agree to allow himself to be Reborn, if Mandos offers him the opportunity. Maedhros caveats his agreement with ‘only if it won’t further harm the victims and survivors of the Kinslayings.’

Fingon, finding that understandable and knowing that it is the best he will get, tells Maedhros that he will prepare a place for him in Valinor, and agrees to be Reborn. Maedhros didn’t argue with Fingon about that, because he knew that Fingon wouldn’t remember that promise, as most elves do not consciously remember anything from their time in Mandos. Fingon, however, subconsciously remembers his promise, and does what he can to make it easier for Maedhros to be Reborn and then be comfortable living in Valinor someday.

Around this time, Maedhros starts going back and forth between working on healing and atoning in the Halls, and helping his father and brothers monitor Morgoth and his allied Void monsters in the Everlasting Darkness. Maedhros sets up a roster, so that at least two of the brothers are in the Halls at any given time. One brother to watch the tapestries and bring warnings of current events to those in the Void, and one as a backup. Caranthir, Amrod, and Amras all also spend time in the Halls. Not just monitoring the tapestries, but also repenting and atoning with the Maiar of Mandos and apologizing to the spirits of those they’ve harmed.

In time, Maedhros learns how to speak through the Silmaril of Sky himself, in order to warn Earendil of Void monsters when/if Feanor is not available to do so.

That is where the deceased sons of Feanor are, and what they are up to, as of the mid Second Age when Sauron goes to Eregion in the guise of Annatar. I will write more on what happens at that specific point in time later, in terms of the impact of the blood sacrifices Sauron convinces Arpharazon to make in Numenor (put simply, the sacrifices increase Morgoth’s power in the Void).

Then we come to Maglor. In the Desperate Hours AU, Maglor did his canonical lamenting by the seashore for the first few centuries after the end of the War of Wrath. Then he met and married Heddwyn. She was a wood elf, whom Maglor had rescued from danger when she’d made a pilgrimage to the sea. He then accompanied her back to her isolated village in the Goldenwood to keep her (and her companions) safe. She convinced him to give up his lamenting by the shore to marry her, and to help her protect her people. Several of them knew who he really was, and welcomed him among them for his expertise as a warrior, as well as for the role the Feanorians had played in protecting all of Middle Earth from Morgoth’s armies during the First Age, despite the Kinslayings.

Maglor and Heddwyn had three daughters, who gave them four granddaughters – Nimrodel, Rian, Mithrellas, and Carys. Maglor’s daughters and granddaughters had not known who he was prior to the arrival in their village of a wood elf named Elboron, who had been born Elured of Doriath. Maglor’s granddaughters had been shocked and horrified to learn of their beloved grandfather’s murderous past.

Almost immediately thereafter, Maglor had chosen to accompany Elboron/Elured (hereinafter just Elured) on his quest to join Elrond’s army in protecting Eregion from the forces of Sauron. Maglor had been determined to offer his sword to defend his former foster son (and adopted son), or to face justice at Elrond’s hand, whichever Elrond preferred. Elured had accepted that. Elured had fought in the War of Wrath, serving as one of Elrond’s bodyguards while assiduously avoiding their Uncle Amdir and Great-Uncle Celeborn (whom Elured had believed would have recognized him on sight). In Elured’s view, anyone who might help protect Elrond was worth forgiving, or at least tolerating long enough to defeat Sauron.

Elured and Maglor’s party was ambushed by a large group of orcs on their way to meet Elrond’s army. Maglor was gravely injured trying to protect Elured and his fellows. Elured had died nonetheless. But before the orcs’ reinforcements could arrive, Maglor had managed to hide Emlyn, Elured’s grievously wounded grandson, and several of his companions. Maglor was tortured to death by the orcs, without giving up the location of Emlyn and the others. They were rescued by Maglor’s youngest granddaughter, Carys, after his oldest granddaughter, Nimrodel, endured a vision of the slaughter.

For more information on Maglor’s life after the War of Wrath, see the following chapter, “Maglor Character Notes.” For more information on Elured’s (and Elurin’s) survival, see “Tales of the Lost Twins” (link in the End Notes below).

After Maglor died, his brothers who were in the Halls of Mandos greeted him. Since they could see that Maglor was in bad shape, they asked some of Namo’s and Nienna’s Maiar to help them to comfort and counsel him. One of Maglor’s brothers stayed with him, while whichever of his brothers was the ‘extra’ brother posted in the Halls of Mandos at the time went to the Everlasting Darkness to fetch Feanor and a few more brothers. Until Maglor began to feel better, Feanor and Maedhros stayed with Maglor and the Maiar who were comforting and counseling him. One other brother stayed in the Halls of Mandos to keep an eye on the tapestries showing current events, while the other two brothers (usually Celegorm and Curufin) stayed in the Void, to keep an eye on things there.

When Celebrimbor was captured and tortured by Sauron, Curufin and Feanor watched the tapestries until he died. Then, they demanded to see him immediately. Maedhros, who was also there, corrected them: ‘what my father and brother mean to say, is that they would like to see Celebrimbor if and only if those Maiar who have greeted him think that it would be in his best interests. If not, then we would like for others of our kinfolk to be advised that Celebrimbor has arrived, that they might comfort him, if he would prefer to see them.’

In time, Celebrimbor wished to see his father, grandfather, and uncles. The Maiar agreed, and summoned those of them who were in the Halls. Curufin and Feanor went to Celebrimbor at once, and Celebrimbor reconciled with his father. His uncles came to see him in shifts, and he reconciled with them, as well.

Sometime in the middle of the Third Age, Namo and his Maiar decided that Maedhros and Maglor were sufficiently repentant for their misdeeds in life. They further judge that they have healed as much as is possible as spirits in the Halls of Mandos. In these Powers’ considerable experience, the further healing of minds and spirits that the eldest sons of Feanor have left to do would best be done once they have bodies and are living once more.

The Powers therefore offer Maedhros and Maglor the opportunity to be re-embodied. As this is normally an opportunity that none of the dead decline, those Powers were quite surprised when the brothers asked questions. Questions upon which their acceptance was conditional.

Maedhros asked if, after they were Reborn, they would be permitted to return to Middle Earth, to aid in the fight against Sauron. Namo said, basically, ‘of course not.’

Maedhros then asked if ‘all whom he had harmed in the Kinslayings had entreated for him to be Reborn.’

Namo answered, ‘No. But I have deemed that you have repented sufficiently for your crimes. You may walk under the sun once more.’

Maedhros said, ‘No, thank you. I will wait until you decide that I might be permitted to return to Middle Earth to aid Elrond, the descendants of Elros, and their peoples. Or until it is in the best interest of everyone in Valinor for me to live again so that I may atone for my crimes. Meaning, that I will wait until all whom I harmed have indicated that they would gain more from my being alive to offer what restitution I am capable of giving them. Otherwise, I would think that those I slayed and their kinfolk would prefer the peace of mind that they derive from knowing that I am still dead.’

Maglor says, basically, ‘Me, too.’

Namo wonders, not for the first time, what crime he himself committed, that Eru has seen fit to inflict Feanor and his sons upon Namo. Although his frustration is somewhat mitigated by the fact that he, and many of his Maiar, have come to like and even respect most of the sons of Feanor (especially Maedhros and Maglor). They also respect that their reasons for refusing to be Reborn are noble ones, even if they think that the brothers are being foolishly stubborn, in disrespecting Namo’s own judgement as to the satisfactoriness of their repentance.

After the Ring War, when Elrond sails to Valinor, he seeks an audience with Mandos. There he asks if his foster-fathers might be Reborn, because he misses them.

Namo explains, basically, that, ‘I would like nothing better than to get rid of Maedhros, Maglor, and (by that time) over half of their brothers. However, they have refused the opportunity to be Reborn. Multiple times.’ His tone heavily implies that people simply do not do this, and that he is utterly flabbergasted by the situation. It also implies, ‘how dare the Sons of Feanor think that they are better judges of their guilt and repentance than I and my Maiar?’

Elrond, who knows his foster-fathers, is unsurprised by Namo’s explanation of the situation. He resolves to start a petition, aiming to get more than half (or as many as possible) of the elves of Tol Eressea (and Alqualonde) to sign it. Elrond eventually succeeds.

Maedhros, when he is informed of this, says that he is touched and gratified by the forgiveness this signifies. However, it still isn’t enough to incline him to accept re-embodiment, because he doesn’t want to be Reborn if some of those he slayed and/or their kinfolk would still be hurt by it.

Namo and his Maiar, who soon tire of being treated as messengers, go back and forth between Maedhros and Elrond, until Elrond offers a compromise that Maedhros finds acceptable. By that time, Caranthir, Amrod, and Amras have also been offered the opportunity to be re-embodied. These events are explained in more detail in the course of the Maedhros POV story, “Simply a Matter of Making Sensible Staffing Decisions” [the link will be posted below as soon as the first chapter of the story has been posted].

Maedhros, Maglor, Amrod, and Amras accept the offer, and are Reborn. Caranthir elects to stay in the Halls of Mandos (or, rather, between there and the Void). Mostly because he was in love with a mortal woman, Haleth. Being alive in Valinor again holds little appeal to him, since he would still have to be without his beloved. Also, Caranthir staying dead means that he and one brother can still be ‘posted’ in the Halls of Mandos, while Feanor and the last brother are in the Void, keeping an eye on Morgoth, the Void monsters who are his allies, and the Door of Night. If Caranthir hadn’t truly wanted to stay dead, then Maedhros would have remained instead.

Namo is not upset by Caranthir declining the opportunity to be Reborn. He is sympathetic to his reason. Namo also permitted Aegnor to stay in his Halls for extra centuries, because it took him a long time to want to live in Valinor without the mortal woman whom he had loved, Andreth Saelind.

Chapter Text

Summary (an excerpt from draft Chapter 2 of “Sensible Staffing Decisions”):

In the Desperate Hours AU, Maglor did his canonical lamenting by the seashore for the first few centuries after the end of the War of Wrath. Then he met and married Heddwyn. She was a wood elf, whom Maglor had rescued from danger when she’d made a pilgrimage to the sea during the mid Second Age. He had accompanied her back to her isolated village in the Goldenwood to keep her safe. She had convinced him to give up his lamenting by the shore to marry her, and help her protect her people. Several of them knew who he really was, and had welcomed him among them for his expertise as a warrior, as well as for the role the Feanorians had played in protecting all of Middle Earth from Morgoth’s armies, despite the Kinslayings.

Maglor and Heddwyn had three daughters, who gave them four granddaughters – Nimrodel, Rian, Mithrellas, and Carys. Maglor’s daughters and granddaughters had not known who he was prior to the arrival in their village of a wood elf named Elboron, who had been born Elured of Doriath. Maglor’s granddaughters had been shocked and horrified to learn of their beloved grandfather’s murderous past.

Almost immediately thereafter, Maglor had chosen to accompany Elboron/Elured on his quest to join Elrond’s army in protecting Eregion from the forces of Sauron. Maglor had been determined to offer his sword to defend his former foster son (and adopted son), or to face justice at Elrond’s hand, whatever Elrond preferred. Elboron/Elured had accepted that. He had fought in the War of Wrath, serving as one of Elrond’s bodyguards while assiduously avoiding their Uncle Amdir and Great-Uncle Celeborn (whom Elured had believed would have recognized him on sight). In Elured’s view, anyone who might help protect Elrond had been worth forgiving, or at least tolerating, long enough to defeat Sauron.

Elured and Maglor’s party had been ambushed by a large group of orcs on their way to meet Elrond’s army. Maglor had been gravely injured trying to protect Elured and his fellows. Elured had died nonetheless. But before the orcs’ reinforcements could arrive, Maglor had managed to hide Emlyn, Elured’s grievously wounded grandson, and several of his companions. Maglor had been tortured to death by the orcs, without giving up the location of Emlyn and the others. They had been rescued by Maglor’s youngest granddaughter, Carys, after his oldest granddaughter, Nimrodel, had endured a vision of the slaughter.

That concludes the excerpt from Chapter 2 of “Sensible Staffing Decisions.”

The following are excerpts from draft stories, and from posted stories which I wrote many years ago. If I were to take the time to go back and finish/revise them now, I would portray Maglor’s character as somewhat softer and gentler. However, I do think he had become harsher after being hardened by the Battles of Beleriand and the latter Kinslayings, not to mention grief-stricken and guilt-stricken. So, not all of the following would need to be changed.

Proceeding roughly in chronological order:

An excerpt from “The Tale of Belegaeron”:

Maglor mourned, and he walked. He had decided to wander the coastline of the entire continent. It wasn't much of a decision; he just started walking by the sea, and kept walking.

He no longer thought of himself by his name; he was consumed with grief, when first he began walking the sea. He had no name, but it didn't matter. He didn't speak to anyone, and no one spoke to him.

He walked the whole continent around and kept going, though he avoided all settlements, at first. And there were few enough to avoid, his kind being mostly dead or gone. Traveling inland for the length of what had been called the Falas, before the breaking of Beleriand, kept him well away from the settlements he later learned were called Mithlond and Lindon. Cirdan's settlement, and Ereinion's. There were a few human settlements, but by the time he ran into any by the shore, enough time had passed that none of them would recognize him, short-lived creatures though they were. At first, he would walk by them in the night, rather than walking around them. He liked to be by the sea, always.

The first time he walked Middle Earth 'round, he had no thought for anything but grief. But the tide went in, and the tide went out, and he walked. After a few centuries had passed, the grief had eased, however slightly, and there was room for anger.

At first, the anger was aimed at Morgoth, and at the Valar, and all the other elves and men who had taken that which he felt rightfully belonged to his father, and then to him and his brothers. Then he walked further, stewing in his own anger, until he reached [cold place - Forlond?] again. Later it came to him to be angry with his Father, for the Oath. Even with Maedhros, for throwing himself into the fires of the earth with his Silmaril. Instead of staying with Maglor, after they'd satisfied the Oath. Maglor had felt it dissipate, as they'd laid hands on the last two Silmarils. Together, they could have found a volcano to throw Maedhros' Silmaril into, to give it to the element of earth that it may be safe, as the Silmaril of Sky was safe with Earendil in the heavens above. Then they could have gone to the seashore, where Maglor could have given his Silmaril to the sea. As he'd done, on his own, before he started his wandering and lamenting.

His anger at Maedhros didn't last long. He knew that, although his eldest brother had fought valiantly against the shadow on his heart since his rescue by Fingon, Maedhros had begun to lose that fight after the Battle of Unnumbered Tears.

But Maglor's anger at their Father for his Oath only strengthened, as he walked.

Alqualonde hadn't been any of their idea. It had been Feanor's. His greatest anger was over the Oath. But part and parcel of that was Feanor's impossible standards, his obsessions, his inflexibility. His fey madness, after Grandfather Finwe's death. Maglor was furious at the choices his father had made, and allowed, nay, encouraged, his sons to make as well.

Then the wanderer wished he had proved his mother's son, in truth, long, long ago. But there had been no disobeying his father, and as a youth, he had believed in what his father believed. His father could be golden-tongued and persuasive, even loving, as well as obsessed and inflexible and cold. In time, he wished he'd had the wisdom, the compassion, and the strength to disobey his father.

Remorse came, but it had come before. This time it stayed.

Although the remorse was mingled with anger. He remembered a conversation that his foster-son Elrond had told him of.

"Lord Eonwe," the young peredhel had asked, "If the Host of the Valar hadn't come, we would have all died. But Morgoth..."

"Morgoth would have grown unsatisfied, with Middle Earth, in time. And he might have finished conquering it a long time ago, if it weren't for the Noldor joining the Sindar and the Nandor in opposing him. Then what would have happened?" Elros had finished, intrigued by the hypothetical though he had at first been annoyed by his twin's various what if's.

"We'll never know," had been Eonwe's answer.

And that was true enough, the wanderer supposed. But some part of him wondered if the Valar had not planned this, had not refrained from seeing that his young, troubled father got the help he needed, so that some day, he would lead the Noldor to Middle Earth, to fight the battles that the Valar would not. Well, would not until Earendil sailed to Aman, and Earendil and Elwing asked. But again, if the Noldor had not come to Middle Earth, Morgoth's armies would have wiped out all the elves of Beleriand, with the exception of those who may have survived in Doriath. Also, there would have been no Finrod Felagund to help Beren with the quest to win the hand of Luthien, and therefore no Elwing, granddaughter of Luthien and Beren. No Union of Maedhros to distract Morgoth from his plans of world dominion. If the Noldor had not left, in defiance of the will of the Valar, there would have been no Gondolin, no Idril there to marry Tuor and bear Earendil. If Earendil had not successfully made the perilous journey to Valinor, if Elwing had not persuaded the Valar to come to Middle Earth's aid...if if if...Elrond and Elros asked powerful questions. They always had.

The Valar had always spoken of the importance of free will. Finrond Felagund had chosen, and befriended the humans, choosing his word of honor to a human over the rule of his kingdom. Artanis had chosen, chosen love over power, chosen to postpone her dream of ruling her own realm until she felt herself better learned, better prepared. Turgon had chosen, and founded a city, and disregarded a warning. The wanderer and his brothers had also chosen, chosen to follow their father, chosen to kill those who did not deserve death, who were not threatening their own lives. They had also chosen to fight Morgoth, but they had had their own reasons for that. The wanderer's own choices had been ill, and that was no fault of the Valar.

Still, if the Valar had intervened to forbid, why had they not intervened to help? Sent someone to talk to his father, when he had still been a young ellon, before pride and jealousy had driven him from obsession into madness. Given the Laiquendi, the Sindar, or the Falathrim, aid in their opposition of Morgoth?

That, despite the guilt that came to weigh on him near as heavy as his grief, was why for a long time he would not seek to return to Aman, to accept the judgment of the Valar. It was why the wanderer would have, in fact, let any elf on Middle Earth judge him, but not them. Those he had harmed by his choices had the right, but not the Valar, who had possessed the power, but done nothing to alter the course of events, at least nothing that he could see. The wanderer realized that he might be deluding himself, but that was how he felt. And the shore birds he explained this to didn't particularly care. If anything, he rather thought the crustaceans agreed with him. The fish were carefully neutral, but then, they were but fish.

And he was but an elf, and should perhaps not hold his life or his aims or his rights or his pride or his goals more dearly than that of other elves. Perhaps that was the entire misapprehension that had led to Alqualonde, and everything that came after. After he came to that conclusion, which the dolphins seemed to like, he considered going to Cirdan the next time he walked by Mithlond, and asking to be sent back for judgment, to face whatever fate the Valar decreed.

The wanderer considered it, seriously. But he was not sure what good it would do. Nothing ever really changed, for him, anymore. If he did not go to Mithlond this time he passed it, he could always surrender himself the next time.

Then he never ended up coming to Mithlond again. During one of his circuits of the shore, his journey was interrupted when he reached [river meeting sea]. [the place where the anduin river met the sea] One act of kindness changed the course of his life, and arguably that of many other lives. It turned out that the wanderer's time on Middle Earth was not yet done, though he would still make his way to the Halls of Mandos, in time.

But that is getting ahead of the story.

So, Maglor continued walking by the sea. He lost track of the time that had passed since he began, of the times that he had walked all the way 'round the beautiful, foamy shore of Middle Earth. In time, he came through grief, anger, and remorse to a frozen state that approximated calm.

Though he would mourn forever, he started to notice his surroundings, in more than just the desultory manner he had previously. He began to notice the ever-present sameness and yet at the same time the constant changes that were worked by the sea upon the stone and earth shores of Middle Earth. He came to look for a pair of nesting hawks he remembered having seen overlooking a bay, or a spot on the shoreline where the herons returning from their evening meal were perfectly silhouetted by the setting sun. That cove where the dolphins would play through the breaking waves on a sand bar, and the beach where the porpoises had learned to catch fish in the shallows.

In time, he started running into humans as he walked, though he avoided the major settlements, and all elves. He knew how not to be seen when he chose; he had been a tracker, and a warrior, for centuries. And he'd been raised by an ellon who had left his sons no option but to excel at everything that was important to their father. It was an apprenticeship that centuries as a warrior on Middle Earth during the dangerous First Age had improved upon. And so the wanderer was quite skilled, at many things, most especially the fighting arts.

At first, he had little interaction with those humans he saw. But over time, seeing them with their clumsy fishing nets as he walked past their ramshackle villages, the craftsman in him was appalled. So, as he passed them by, on his good days, he paused to show them how to build better nets, or how to tell the signs that a day which began fair would turn dark. Sometimes he showed them how to determine the best places for their villages, or how to build a proper foundation for a cottage. He told himself that it was not done out of compassion, really. His experiences with humans in the past had been mixed, to say the least. But he hated to see things done poorly.

The decades passed, and still he walked. In time, the humans he passed told their descendants of him. They even came up with a name for him, the [Walker by Water]. They viewed him as a spirit sent by Eru to aid them. The first time a human asked of him if he was the Walker by Water, and explained to him in his confusion what that meant, he was flabbergasted. Him, any kind of benign spirit. What a thought. He scolded the human, and explained that Lord Ulmo had no such assistant as the Walker by Water. But the human took his repaired, upgraded crab trap, and told his children and grandchildren that the Walker by Water was real. That the spirit himself had once aided their father, and given him the knowledge and the skills to become the most successful waterman in their region. If the elf had been in the mood to learn a lesson, he might perhaps have realized that what you do is more important than what you say. But the wanderer had had enough of lessons, and thinking through the consequences of his actions. He was just walking.

Then, one day, more by accident, from instinct, than as a result of any conscious impulse, the wanderer saved an elleth from drowning. Her name was Heddwyn, and instead of thanking him, she said, "Now you have to take me back to my traveling companions, and help us get back to our village."

Maglor did not know what to say to this.

Heddwyn smiled, "Well, what are you waiting for? You can't just leave me half-saved."

He gaped at this elleth, ordering him around as if he were a raw elfling. He, who had commanded armies, and killed more elves than she had ever known in her sheltered life. "You don't know who I am." He told her dismissively.

"Of course I do. You're the elf who saved my life. Since you won't give me your name, I'll call you Belegaeron." She looked at him measuringly. "Yes, yes. I think that name fits you well."

Heddwyn and her traveling companions, wood elves who had come on a pilgrimage to the sea, seemed to Maglor - Belegaeron - to be more like a nursery school play group than wanderers capable of defending themselves.

Belegaeron - as he began to call himself, for Heddwyn was an impossible force of nature - escorted the elleth and her friends back to her village.

It was a village of Nandorin elves in the forest which came to be known as the Goldenwood, and Beleageron always meant to leave but ended up staying. First it was that the traps around their village perimeter needed to be better hidden, and that he should teach them to live in flets, as the Laiquendi had taught him and his brothers to do, on their long hunting trips.

Then it was that the village's carpenter Neirin (also the village headman) was using the wrong wood for their bows. Then it was that none of the elves knew one end of the sword form another, and that the blacksmith (also the village headman) wasn't blending the steel for the swords correctly.

A joke amongst the elves of the village became, "So, Belegaeron, when are you leaving?'

And Belegaeron would always answer 'soon." And he even packed up and set off several times. But the first time he found one of the village elflings following him, and had to return her. The next time it snowed six feet, in the spring. Then it was one thing, after another, after another.

In time, Heddwyn asked Belegaeron to marry her. Instead of giving her an answer, he tried to leave again.

Before he could set off, Neirin the Village Headman asked him to stay, and marry his daughter. When Belegaeron told Neirin that he could not, because he must face judgement, Neirin said:

Neirin - "There will be time enough for judgment. For now, why not make something of your life here, amongst elves who have come to care for you."

Belegaeron, belatedly shocked - "You know who I am?"

Neirin- I know who you ARE, as all of us do. You are Belegaeron, who wandered by the Great Sea until he saved Heddwyn, and returned to be an elf-of-all-trades here in our village." Neirin paused, and continued more seriously, "I alone also know who you were, having once fought beside your younger brothers, during [the battle of sudden flame]. I've known who you were since the first day we met. I suspect my granddaughter does not, nor does she care." Neirin's expression went wry, and resigned, "My granddaughter Heddwyn would go on a simple trip to the sea shore, and manage to adopt the only surviving son of Feanor. It is exactly like something she would do."

Belegaeron told Heddwyn his real name. Her father had been right, it did not matter to her. Belegaeron gave her a chance to change her mind. He told her that if she still wanted to marry him in a century's time, then he would say yes.

A cousin of Heddwyn's who lived in the Greenwood and visited from time to time was married to a warrior elf, a hunter and a tracker. He looked familiar, to Belegaeron. They fought side by side, several times, when that elf (Elboron) was visiting their village, and bands of orc or wargs or even just winter-starved wolves or bears ventured to close.

One day Elboron said to Belegaeron "I know who you were. I have learned who you are. Marry my cousin by marriage, and be happy. I have forgiven you, and if I can forgive you, then you should be able to forgive yourself."

That was when Belegaeron realized that this elf, when he was thoughtful, looked somewhat like an adult version of the twins, Elros and Elrond. And he recalled that no one had ever known what had happened to Elwing's older twin brothers... until now. Although Elboron did not like to speak of his past, and Belegaeron respected that.

In time, Maglor had three daughters. They in turn gave him four granddaughters - Nimrodel, Rian, Mithrellas, and Carys.

By the time Maglor died and heard the call of Mandos, he would be more than just one of his father's sons. He would be Belegaeron, who had walked for centuries by the great sea. Belegaeron, beloved of Heddwyn. Belegaeron, who fought a whole clan of orcs to save his village. Belegaeron, who survived a week of torture at the hands of those same orcs. Belegaeron, who loved his family. Belegaeron, whose granddaughters loved him enough to risk their own lives to save him. And Belegaeron, who had made such warriors of his own granddaughters, that they succeeded.

This concludes the excerpt from “the Tale of Belegaeron” (tentative title). Next, an excerpt from “Belegaeron’s Granddaughters” (most of the text of it, actually – it’s a short story):

Belegaeron had four granddaughters. Ice, Wind, Fire and Earth.

Ice:
"Not good enough. Again."

Nimrodel agreed. She raised her sword again. She always was her grandfather's favorite.

Strong and proud, but bitter and cold like ice, it would be she who turned against him the most harshly. Nimrodel could not bend, not for her grandfather, not for her sisters, and not for King Amroth, whom she loved. Belegaeron had looked at her and seen his mother. She was like his mother, in some ways. But in others, she was like his father. What doesn't bend, must break.

Wind:
"Is there nothing in your head but air?" He demanded.

Rian took her eyes from the butterfly reluctantly. It never failed to amaze her that the pretty winged thing had once been a caterpillar.

"Are you even listening?" Belegaeron asked intently, his calm cutting more than his fire.

Rian hadn't been. She hardly ever did. She could never compare to Nimrodel and she was not particularly inspired to try. It was easier to just float through life, so that was what she did.

But Belegaeron never gave up on her. And when the time came to fight, she could, because he had taught her. When the time came to wait, she could, because he had been patient with her, in his own way. And when the time came to live again, Rian could do that too. She was the survivor. That, too, she had learned from her grandfather.

Fire:
"And...just so."

Mithrellas pulled the sword from the fire, and plunged it into the water. Nimrodel was grandfather's favorite, but Mithrellas was a promising smith. It gave her a special place, in grandfather's heart. So had her temper, in a backwards way. Her parents hadn't known what to do about her toddler rages. Her grandfather had carried her into the woods and left her there. In retrospect, it had been cruel, but effective. He seemed to love her for the flaw, and even more for having mastered it.

Still, Mithrellas didn't compete with Nimrodel; the other elleth was enough older that it didn't make sense.

But she did play the mediator; Grandfather liked her, but not as much as Nimrodel.

She got on with Nimrodel - they were both hard-workers.

Mithrellas could get Rian to do things that no one else could. Mithrellas knew how to take raw ore and let it tell her what it should become, and how it should be shaped. She did much the same for Rian.
And later for Celebrimbor, whom she loved and served. And then, much later, for Imrazor, whom she loved and married.

Earth:
Carys was a surprise. Nimrodel raised her. Mithrellas should have, because she was Carys' sister, not just her cousin. But Mithrellas was in Eregion, and grandfather had never really known how to raise a little elleth anyway, despite having given birth to three of them, and caring for Nimrodel as well.

Nimrodel was strong and beautiful. Just like Belegaeron, she demanded nothing less than perfection. Carys got away with being imperfect. It always baffled Rian and later Mithrellas, but Carys was the baby. Mostly, no one minded.

Grandfather trained Carys, too, but Nimrodel helped quite a bit. Carys was not particularly interested, but she learned because she had to. Belegaerons' granddaughters did not have a choice. Grandfather died, and Nimrodel bound them all by an oath.

Later, Carys made a choice. His name was Emlyn, and he was beautiful. Less so than the average elf, but Carys didn't care. She broke oath with her sisters, and bore Emlyn three beautiful sons.

Haldir, Orophin, and Rumil were Belegaeron's first great-grandchildren, but they would not be his last. Mithrellas' children spilled his blood into the lines of the Dol Amroth Princes and the Lords of Anfalas, and eventually into all of the noble houses of Gondor and its allies, including the House of the Stewards and the Kings of Rohan. Rian's children were the first grandchildren of the elven King of the Greenwood - his foster-son's children, and not his own blood, but loved all the same.

Almost all of Belegaeron's line, no matter how distant, could sing beautifully. Some things ran in the blood. And other things, fortunately, did not. Or at least, could be mastered.

This concludes the excerpt from “Belegaeron’s Granddaughters.” Here is the ‘Lay of Belegaeron,’ a song written about Maglor’s rescue from orcs by his granddaughters. One written by, in Maglor’s opinion once he hears it later in the Fourth Age, ‘a distinctly subpar bard.’ If you, like Maglor, are bothered by poorly written lyrics, please skip ahead to the excerpt from “Dribbling Mad.”

Lay of Belegaeron

"This is the song of Belegaeron,

Who journeyed from the sea to the wood.

This is the song of Belegaeron,

Great hero of the Laiquendi of the Wood.

When the orcs came to the village of Belegaeron,

Belegaeron's elves took to the trees.

Fire and destruction they rained down on the dark ones,

And the orcs came to fear that village in the wood.

But with the orcs' fear came hatred,

And they returned in greater force.

Belegaeron's elves stayed safe in the trees,

But their cousins journeying to visit them were caught.

Belegaeron heard their screams;

Belegaeron went to save them.

He struck the orcs like a ghost,

Freed the captives while the orcs searched the wood.

But they came back too soon, the foul creatures

Found Belegaeron and the fleeing elves.

Belegaeron was a warrior; he could have saved himself.

But instead he stayed back to defend the elves he barely knew,

Trading his life for theirs.

This is song of Belegaeron's granddaughters

Ice, Fire, Earth, and Wind.

And of how Belegaeron had trained them

To be great and strong as well as wise.

The orcs hated Belegaeron

And treated him terribly cruel

Ten days and nights he screamed

As his granddaughters wept, and planned.

On the eleventh day they saved him

Ghosts out of the wood with sharp blades

Ice stung them with her sharp sword;

Fire encircled and burned them

Earth pretended to be hurt like a sparrow

When the orcs went to kill her,

Wind slew them from the trees.

Ice rescued her father, and soothed his hurts.

This is the song of Belegaeron's granddaughters

His granddaughters of the wood.

They slayed every orc.

And carried their grandfather away.

The following is an excerpt from the Thranduil POV story “Dribbling Mad,” which, in the context of chronicling his friendship with a grandson of Elurin, explains how Thranduil figured out that the woodelves Elboron and Eldun Dilysion had been born Elured and Elurin Diorchil. “Dribbling Mad” is set in the earliest years of the Fourth Age.

Excerpt from “Dribbling Mad”:

For an age and a half, in fact until just a little over a decade ago, it had been assumed that Elured and Elurin had died as mere children. Most had believed Dior and Nimloth’s twin sons to have been the final victims of the sons of Feanor during their attack on Doriath which had been the Kingdom’s doom. Others, believing the account of Maedhros Feanorion that he had tried to rescue Elured and Elurin after his brother Celegorm and his servants lured the peredhil into the forest, only to have the terrified twin peredhil run away deep into the forests surrounding Doriath, believed that the poor children had succumbed to starvation and the elements.

But in truth, they hadn’t. They had fled, but they had lived long enough to be taken in by the Nandor, also called the Laiquendi and later the Silvan elves or Wood-elves. They were the rustic elves of the great forests of Beleriand, the elves who had never completed the journey to the West, or joined the great Middle Earth kingdom of Doriath founded by Thranduil’s many-times great uncle Elu Thingol and protected by Elu’s Maiarin wife Melian’s magic.

The isolated Nandorin villagers who had taken in Elured and Elurin had been led by the elleth Dilys, the aunt of Denethor, the last leader of the Laiquendi. Out of fear that harboring the heirs of Doriath would bring Morgoth’s attention, Dilys and her fellow elders had re-named the young twins. Elured had become “Elboron” and the younger twin Elurin had become “Eldun.” The elders had burned the remnants of the fancy clothing which the twins had been wearing when they fled the slaughter at Doriath. The jeweled rings and chains of office which had survived the fire, the only remaining evidence of the twins’ royal status, the elders had buried. Unknown to the elders, two of the village’s young elflings, Eirian and Serenwen, had witnessed the burying of the treasures.

The twins had grown to adulthood believing their early life to have been a dream. Elured had become an apprentice of Elder Fion, the village’s most skilled hunter and warrior. Elurin had studied with Elder Dilys, the village’s healer.

Only when the foundling twins came of age had Dilys and the other elders taken them aside to explain to them the truth of their origins. The elders gave the twins two choices. The first, to reclaim their true names and leave with the elders’ blessing to go and seek out their royal kinsmen Amdir, Celeborn and Oropher in the city of Lindon on the Isle of Balar. The second, to remain Elboron and Eldun, and stay with their adoptive people.

Elboron had wished to reclaim the name Elured and go with his twin to join their kin on Balar. Elurin had been determined for them to remain Elboron and Eldun, and stay in the village. Elurin felt more strongly than his older twin, so remain – and remain hidden - they did. However, when Thranduil recalled the story of Doriath’s ‘lost’ twin princes, he always called the hidden twins Elured and Elurin, for that is who they truly were. Taking different names didn’t change that, not in Thranduil’s opinion.

Elurin had fallen in love with the twins’ elflinghood village playmate Eirian, and the two of them were wed the year that the War of Wrath began. Some of the villagers, led by Elder Fion, had left their home just after that wedding to join the War against Morgoth and his servants.

Elured had been amongst their number. Though he had kept his promise to his twin and never revealed his true name, Elured had fought beside and protected his nephews Elros and Elrond during the War of Wrath. Not until the war was won, and Elrond and Elros were safe with their kin in Ereinion Gil-galad’s new city of Lindon on the shore of the sea, did Elured leave his nephews. Together with his new love Anwen, and their companions Fion, Serenwen, and Serenwen’s new Noldorin husband Nallos, Elured returned to the village and his twin.

Despite all of the precautions taken by the Nandorin village elders, servants of Morgoth fleeing their master’s defeat had heard rumors of the twins’ survival. They had come to the village, meaning to torture the truth out of its inhabitants. Elurin had used his powers, inherited from his great-grandmother Melian the Maia, to hide his village. And then he had led the orcs and monsters away from his new wife and the defenseless villagers.

Elder Dilys had come to help her foster-son. She had died defending Elurin. Elurin himself had been crippled by the orcs, but his twin Elured and his companions had arrived home from the War just in time to save Elurin’s life. Then together the twins and the elders had led the villagers away from their ancient home near old Doriath, never to return. Before they left, Elurin’s wife Eirian and her best friend Serenwen dug up the twins’ jewels, the ones the elders had buried so long ago. Serenwen put them in a metal box she’d brought back with her from the War, and she carried them along with her.

Elured and Elurin had wandered with their people throughout the new forests made by the Breaking of the World. In time, their people became among the most reclusive of the Nandor. They split into two groups, one of which settled by the River Nimrodel on the edges of the Forest of Lorien. The other group, led by Elurin and his twin, had wandered to the furthest north and east reaches of the Greenwood. It was there that they made their home, and it was there that Elurin’s wife Eirian and her friend Serenwen reburied the metal box of secret treasures.

In time, the one village in the north and east of the Greenwood became over a dozen small, semi-nomadic settlements. Those villages lived an isolated existence. They only rarely made contact with their more sociable Silvan cousins who populated the rest of the Wood. And they did not welcome visitors.

There, in the quiet vastness of the Greenwood, Elured and his wife Anwen were blessed with a son, Elissed. Elissed became a great hunter and fighter. He married an elleth named Rilly, the daughter of refugees from the fallen kingdom of Nargothorond who had been taken in by Dilys and the other elders during the First Age. Rilly sadly died giving birth to their first and only son, Emlyn. When Emlyn was a young ellon, Elurin and Eirian’s only son, Eurig, was born. The cousins Emlyn and Eurig were the closest of friends.

For yeni, year slipped into decade slipped into century with little of note changing in the villages. But then something began to sour. The twins and the other elders didn’t know it, but Sauron the deceiver, Morgoth’s chief servant, had returned to Middle Earth. In the guise of an elf, Annatar, the lord of gifts, Sauron had taken up residence in the settlement of Eregion.

Elured and Elurin and their people knew little to nothing of Eregion, and nothing of Annatar. But as Annatar’s power grew, orcs and monsters and bandits began to roam Middle Earth in greater numbers. Lives were lost even in the furthest, most isolated areas of the Wood.

It was Elurin who came up with a way to protect the villages of his people. He used the powers he had inherited from his ancestress Melian to make it impossible for enemies to find their dwelling places. And so it was that their villages mostly remained safe, while the rest of the Wood suffered.

It was during those difficult years that Lord Oropher of the Sindar and his people came to the Greenwood from Aran Ereinion’s kingdom of Lindon. Not long after the newcomers’ arrival, the Silvan elves asked Oropher to assume kingship of their Wood. The newly-made King Oropher began to organize the militias of the Silvan towns and villages into a formidable army, one capable of protecting the elves of the Greenwood from the dangers which surrounded them.

Elured, Elurin, and their people had nothing to do with those developments. The messengers from their contacts amongst the Silvan villages came when Elured was away. Elurin and the other elders made the decision to decline contact with the newly organizing kingdom of Greenwood.

The twins later quarreled over that decision. Elured believed that he, his twin, and their villages owed it to the rest of the Wood to join together in resisting the dark creatures now increasing in numbers and influence. Elurin, his son Eurig, Elured’s son Elissed, and the majority of the other elders disagreed. They were determined that the villages should look out for their own, and believed that they owed nothing to the rest of the Wood. But Elured’s grandson Emlyn decided to join Elured and the others who had resolved to follow him.

Backing up a little, on rare occasions, Elured and his wife Anwen had led a party to visit their sister village in Lorien. On one visit to their sister Lorien village, Elured met an ellon with a familiar face. Elder Fion introduced the ellon as Belegaeron, who was being courted by their village Seeress, Heddwyn. She, along with Fion and Dilys, had helped to raise the elflings Elured and Elurin. If not for Belegearon, Fion explained to Elured, Heddwyn would have died on a trip to the seashore. If not for Belegaeron, Heddwyn and her companions may not have made it home to the village safely. If not for Belegaeron, the village in the Goldenwood would never have thought to begin dwelling in flets high in the trees to keep safe from the orcs and wargs and monsters once again roaming Middle Earth.

Eventually, Elured remembered the horrible day when he had first seen the face of Belegaeron. He remembered Belegaeron’s aristocratic features, distorted in rage, as the armor-clad ellon had fought and slain Elured’s and Elurin’s guards. But by then he’d realized that Belegaeron in the present was a far different elf than Maglor Feanorion, Kinslayer. So, Elured called Elboron went to talk to Maglor called Belegaeron. He told him that he knew who he was, but he forgave him. Elured told him to marry Heddwyn, and be happy. The two elves parted in peace. But Elured never told his twin, of having met and forgiven a son of Feanor.

After losing the fight over contact with the new kingdom of Greenwood to his twin, Elured had decided to lead another such expedition to their sister village in the Goldenwood, the first in centuries. By then, Belegaeron had lost his beloved wife Heddwyn and two of his daughters to an attack on the village by bandits. Without Belegaeron and the skills they had been taught by Belegaeron, Fion told Elured and Anwen, the village as a whole would never have managed to rally and repel that attack. If not for Belegaeron, Fion made it clear, Elured and Anwen’s party would have found nothing but bones to visit in their sister village.

Just then, Belegaeron came to Elured, in the company of his shocked granddaughters, and confessed before his whole village that he was a Kinslayer. He confessed also to what he and his brothers had done to Elured’s family and people. Although he did not share that Elured’s family had been the royal family of Doriath, for Maglor knew that Elured did not wish his – and his twin’s – parentage to be known.

That very same day, word reached the Lorien village of the return of Sauron, of the Fall of Eregion, and of how Lord Elrond’s vain attempt to rescue Eregion’s elves would likely end in his own capture at the hands of Sauron and his servants. It was the Year 1697 of the Second Age, and the War of the Men and Elves and Sauron had just begun.

Maglor surrendered himself into Elured’s custody. The two together resolved to join Celeborn and Ereinion Gil-galad in going to the defense of Elrond and the survivors of Eregion. Thranduil himself had been a mere elfling then, newly come to the Greenwood and just raised to the status of the Wood’s prince with his parents’ ascension to the rulership of the Greenwood. He’d had no more idea of Elured’s and Maglor Feanorion’s struggles than they’d had of Thranduil’s own difficulties adjusting to his new status as Prince.

Then Elured and Maglor Feanorion, and their companions, had died hero’s deaths during an orcish ambush on their way to join Lord Elrond’s army. Maglor had been gravely wounded defending Elured and his grandson, Emlyn. Despite his injuries, Maglor had helped the equally wounded Emlyn to hide from the orcish reinforcements they could already hear in the distance. Then Maglor had let himself be found by those same orcs. They’d tortured him to death, but he’d never revealed the existence of his fellow survivor, Elured’s grandson.

Meanwhile, Maglor’s oldest granddaughter Nimrodel had seen a vision of the ambush in a dream. Despite the doubts of her fellow villagers, Maglor’s other granddaughters, Rian and Carys, led a party out from the Lorien village to rescue Emlyn. They brought him to their village, and nursed him to health.

By the time that Emlyn was hale again, he and Carys had fallen in love. They went home to Emlyn’s village, to ask the blessing of Emlyn’s father Elissed and mother Rilly on their union. Carys believed that she owed the full truth to Elured and Anwen’s family. So, Carys told Elurin, and Eirian, Elissed, and Eurig, the entire story as she knew it – how Maglor had become known as Belegaeron, how he’d turned himself into Elured, how Elured and Maglor had decided together to go and join Lord Celeborn’s army.

Carys also begged their forgiveness for her grandfather’s and great uncles’ crimes against them and their kin. She explained that she and her sister Mithrellas and cousins Nimrodel and Rian had not known the truth of their grandfather’s identity and crimes until Belegaeron confessed that he was Maglor and consigned himself to Elured’s custody.

Elurin had cursed young Carys, and her grandfather, and all of Maglor’s kin and get. He believed that Maglor had purposely led his twin Elured to death. Elurin ordered Carys confined, and had planned to put her on trial before the villages for her grandfather’s crimes and for colluding in the purposeful endangerment of his twin Elured and sister-by-law Anwen.

But Emlyn begged his great-uncle Elurin for mercy for the young elleth. In the end, Elurin had allowed himself to be convinced that Carys herself was blameless. He had let her go, and Emlyn had followed her. As with all elves who left the villages under Elurin’s protection to dwell in the wider world, Emlyn was told that he could never return. Unlike most of those departing elves, Emlyn was also told that unless he renounced his love for Carys, he would also be killed should he return.

Emlyn and Carys married. They settled in a mostly Silvan town in the south of the Greenwood. Near the end of the Second Age, they were blessed with three sons – Haldir, Orophin, and Rumil. After Emlyn’s death in the War of the Last Alliance, and Carys’ death not long after, their elfling sons eventually came into the custody of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel of Lothlorien. Celeborn and Galadriel had adopted the three elflings, ignorant of the truth that the three were in fact Celeborn’s own great-great-great-great nephews, and also Galadriel’s cousins on both the Sindarin and Noldorin sides of her family.

This concludes the excerpt from “Dribbling Mad.”

For what Maglor did while he was dead, during the rest of the Second Age, the entirety of the Third Age, and the first centuries of the Fourth Age, see the previous chapter, “the Fates of Feanor and his sons after their Deaths.”

Maglor is reborn later in the Fourth Age. More specifically, a few centuries after Thranduil sails to the West along with most of his Greenwood elves. More information about that will appear in “Simply a Matter of Making Sensible Staffing Decisions,” a story that I am planning to start posting soon. Maglor will appear in person in chapter 2 of that story.